Royals to hold alternate training site at Northwest Arkansas

With the minor league season not expected to start until May, the Kansas City Royals have designated Arvest Ballpark, home of the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, as their alternate training site for April.

MLB protocols allow for 20 to 28 players who don’t make the 26-man major league roster out of spring training to participate until the minor league season begins.

The Naturals are based in Springdale, Arkansas.

“We are so fortunate to have a first-class facility such as Arvest Ballpark with the proximity to Kansas City to keep these players sharp after such a terrific start to the year during workouts and games in Surprise,” said JJ Picollo, Royals vice president and assistant general manager/player development. “We can’t thank (Northwest Arkansas general manager) Justin Cole and his staff enough for allowing us to continue our work in their facility as we prepare for the 2021 minor league season.”