Bubba Starling, Royals’ No. 1 pick in 2011, homers for Class AA Northwest Arkansas

Northwest Arkansas, the Royals Class AA affiliate, is sizzling. The Naturals won their franchise-best 11th straight by defeating Springfield 8-4 on Wednesday, and Bubba Starling hit a home run for the second straight day.

Starling homered to center in the seventh inning and added a single, raising his average .238 in 11 games.

He had hit two homers in Class A Wilmington before advancing.

Starling got off to a rough start at Northwest Arkansas, hitting .138 in his first eight games. The Royals’ top draft pick in 2011 from Gardner-Edgerton High, is six for 13 in his last three games.

This story was originally published May 6, 2015 at 8:16 PM with the headline "Bubba Starling, Royals’ No. 1 pick in 2011, homers for Class AA Northwest Arkansas."