By Wes Pruett
As we near the begin of the 2025 season, we look deeper into the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate for the Kansas City Royals. With what was quite the run in the second half of 2024 for the Naturals, their postseason hopes would end as they came up just short. With this, there have been changes made to the staff and this starts at the top. We learned recently the Naturals were under new on field management as Brooks Conrad has been named manager.
Who Is Brooks Conrad?
Conrad, 44, who enters his ninth season as a coach in the Royals system and eighth as a manager. In his tenure, Conrad has managed the former Royals Low-A team, Lexington Legends, as well as the Columbia Fireflies in the canceled 2021 season. Most recently, from 2022-24, Conrad managed the High-A Quad City River Bandits club. The change at the helm of the Naturals will be the eighth in club history and will be one we will have all eyes on as this season matures.
The former Arizona State Sun Devil brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Northwest Arkansas as he played nearly 300 games at the MLB level. From 2008-14 Conrad was with the Athletics, Braves, Brewers, Rays, and Pirates including four playoff games in Atlanta in 2010. In that series, Conrad hit a walk-off grand slam against Cincinnati Reds.
There will be some familiarity for Conrad and the Texas League. Conrad won the MLB’s Clutch Performer award and two MiLB All-Star nominations while he was a member of the Round Rock Express. In addition to Round Rock, Conrad also played for the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2005.
Fill Out The Staff
Alongside Conrad will be an eclectic staff of coaches who have tenure in Springdale and some who are fellow newcomers. We will start on the mound as the Naturals have Larry Carter returning for his eighth season at the helm of the arms of the club.Commonly known as “LC”, Carter spent 2008-12 with the team before returning prior to the 2023 season. In addition, Carter enters his 31st season coaching and was the Bullpen Coach for the Royals from 2020-2022.
When players are needing attention from the plate they will see familiarity as Andy LaRoche returns as the hitting coach for 2025. After a six-year playing career with the Dodgers, in 2007-2008, Pirates, from 2008-2011, and, in 2013, with the Blue Jays, LaRoche returns for his eighth season with the Royals. In addition, he will be entering his third season with the Naturals.
Next, we have another familiar name in Kevin Kuntz. Kuntz, son of Rusty Kuntz, will assume a new role in his third season with the team. In the previous two seasons Kuntz has been the first base coach in addition to general assistance with players during batting practice, fielding, and such.
We have another new member of the staff as Sam Eades will be the Naturals Assistant Pitching Performance and Strategy coach this season. Eades, from South Australia, is also an alum of Missouri Valley College. Before Springdale, Eades worked at Tread Athletics, a Charlotte, North Carolina training facility. Eades will be one to watch how he can effect the roster in year one.
The position of “Assistant” has another fresh coat as Chris Corbett will be the new Assistant Hitting Coach this season. In 2024, Corbett labored with the High-A club the Quad City River Bandits while spending time at the college ranks before joining the Royals. He spent three seasons at the mintor league level as he was drafted by the San Fransisco Giants in the 18th round of the 2017 Draft.
Stability in key positions help sustain success on the field. To further this, Brad Groleau return for his second season as the Athletic Trainer for the Naturals. Before NWA, Groleau spent time in Quad City as the trainer in 2021 and 2022 and won 2022 Midwest Athletic Training Award and was the trainer in the Arizona Fall League for the club.
Ted Elsner will return for his second season as the Naturals Strength and Conditioning coach. Elsner is entering his fourth year with the Royals organization and served as the Columbia Fireflies coach in 2023. Before the Fireflies, Elsner labored with the ACL Royals during the 2022 season.
We close out the staff with three additional newcomers. Announced as the Clubhouse Coordinator was Adam Smith. Connor McMillian has been selected as the Nutrition Fellow for the 2025 season. Grant Binder fills out the staff as the Player Development Trainee for the Naturals in his first year with the club.
When Can You See The Naturals?
Many may be asking “When can we see the Naturals play?” and we have your answer. The team will begin the 2025 season on the road as they trabel to Tulsa to take on the Drillers. Tulsa is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fans can see such talents as Jac Caglianone and more from Arvest Ballpark the following week. Starting on Tuesday, April 8th, through Sunday, the 13th, the Natuals will host the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, the Frisco RoughRiders. On opening night, the first 500 fans will receive a Wiffle Bat and Ball as they enter the gates. First pitch for opening night is scheduled for 7:05 PM CST.
