MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-KANSAS CITY, MO– Northwest Arkansas Naturals outfielders Jarrod Dyson and David Lough were named Tuesday as Kansas City Royals’ organizational award recipients for their on-field achievements during the 2009 season. 

The two Naturals are amongst 13 organizational honorees slated to be recognized at the 2010 Royals Awards Night, presented by James B. Nutter, scheduled for Thursday, January 14^th at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, KS.  

The speedy Dyson has been named as the Willie Wilson Base Runner of the Year – recognizing the organization’s top base runner. Dyson, the 25-year old from McComb, MS, stole a combined 46 bases in 56 attempts between the Naturals and Class-A Burlington in 2009.  The Royals’ 50th-round selection from the 2006 Draft swiped two more bases and hit .310 for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League and was added to KC’s Major League 40-man roster in November. 

Lough was named as recipient of the George Brett Hitter of the Year – recognizing the organization’s top hitter. The 23-year old outfielder had a breakout season in 2009, combining for a .325 average with 28 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 61 RBI and 19 stolen bases between the Naturals and Advanced Class-A Wilmington.  The Clinton, OH resident was the club’s 11th-round selection in 2007.
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Two other notable players who won awards may see time with the Naturals sometime during the 2010 season. Wilmington first baseman Clint Robinson is the winner of the organization’s Mike Sweeney Award – recognizing a player who best represents the Kansas City Royals’ organization on and off the field.  The 24-year old Dothan, AL resident, the Royals’ 25th-round pick in 2007, batted .298 with 13 homers for the Blue Rocks.  Off the field, Robinson logged over 36 hours to Wilmington schools and camps as well as the local Children’s Hospital.  According to the Blue Rocks community relations staff, Robinson made himself available for each and every community appearance.  Robinson is a likely to begin his 2010 campaign in a Naturals uniform.

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