Double-A · Texas League · Springdale, Arkansas, US · Arvest Ballpark

Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Nestled in one of America's fastest-growing metro areas, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals have been the Kansas City Royals' Double-A affiliate since their inaugural season in 2008, developing a steady stream of talent that has helped shape the Royals' major league roster for nearly two decades.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, playing in the Texas League at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas. The franchise relocated from Wichita, Kansas, where it had operated as the Wichita Wranglers since 1987, ahead of the 2008 season. Owned by Rich Entertainment Group, the same company that owns the Buffalo Bisons, the Naturals brought professional baseball to the booming Northwest Arkansas corridor—a region anchored by the corporate headquarters of Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt.

Arvest Ballpark opened in 2008 and quickly became one of the Texas League's premier venues, offering fans a modern ballpark experience set against the backdrop of the Ozark Mountains. The Naturals have been exclusively affiliated with the Royals since their inception, continuing a partnership that began when the Wranglers became a Kansas City affiliate in 1995.

On the field, the Naturals have been a consistent contender. The 2010 squad posted an 86-54 record and swept through the playoffs to win the Texas League championship. The franchise captured a second title in 2021. The Royals' pipeline through Springdale has produced major league stars including Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr., Whit Merrifield, and Vinnie Pasquantino, all of whom made meaningful stops in Northwest Arkansas on their way to Kansas City.