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Castaneda, a 26-year old resident of Torreon, Mexico, split 2009 between the Arizona League's Surprise Royals and the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He began the year on the disabled list before making eight appearances for the rookie-level Surprise Royals, finishing 0-1 with a 2.68 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 10.1 IP. Castaneda was 0-3 in 12 appearances (two starts) for the Naturals, posting a 4.28 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 27.1 IP. Castaneda pitched professionally in the United States for the first time in 2009 after signing with the Royals as a non-drafted free agent on November 11, 2008. He pitched from 2003 to 2008 in the Mexican League.

Wood, like Castaneda, missed a portion of 2009 due to injury. The 24-year old Suwanee, GA resident started the year with the Naturals after splitting 2008 between Northwest Arkansas and Wilmington. Wood went 2-8 with a 5.83 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) with Northwest Arkansas. He also made three rehab appearances for Surprise. Wood, a third-round pick in 2006 out of Georgia Tech, led all Royals farmhands with 139 strikeouts in 2008.

Brandon Sisk, a left-hander from Advanced Class-A Wilmington was also added. He takes the spot of right-hander Danny Gutierrez, who was traded to the Texas Rangers organization on September 3rd.

Naturals outfielder David Lough, shortstop Jeff Bianchi, and left-hander Ben Swaggerty were named to the roster in late August along with Wilmington third baseman Mike Moustakas. Advanced Class-A Wilmington right-hander Danny Gutierrez was also named to the roster, but will occupy a spot for the Texas Rangers' organization after being dealt by the Royals on September 3rd.

The six-team AFL will begin its 18th season on Tuesday, October 13th and plays six games per week, wrapping up with a Championship Game on Saturday, November 21st. Along with the Royals, the Rafters roster will be comprised of prospects from the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals organizations. The Rafters will be managed by Wilmington skipper Brian Rupp, who took the Royals' Class-A Burlington (IA) affiliate to a Midwest League Championship in 2008 and led the Blue Rocks to the playoffs in 2009.

Assignments of other Naturals players for fall and winter ball are unknown at this time, although outfielder Jarrod Dyson has been assigned to the Royals' Instructional League roster. The Instructional League begins in late September and is comprised mainly of Class-A level ballplayers and other players who have missed portions of the previous season due to injury. Naturals' Hitting Coach Terry Bradshaw will also serve as an Instructional League coach.

Fans can log onto nwanaturals.com during the fall for updates on the Rafters in the Arizona Fall League along with the progress of any Naturals playing winter ball in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. The Naturals have a toll-free ticket hotline (1-877-444-2637) for fans to purchase Naturals tickets. Our website, nwanaturals.com offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets online and avoid lines at the ticket windows by printing their tickets at home or at the office.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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