SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Minor League Baseball announced the Pitcher and Player of the Week honors for the week of August 31st through September 6th in each of their respective Player Development Leagues. Naturals’ right-handed starter Drew Beam was awarded the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for his start at Arkansas (Mariners) on September 3rd, 2026.
Beam was brilliant in his start on Thursday, earning his team-best ninth win of the season in the 4-1 win at Arkansas. The Tennessee alum fired 8.0 innings of one-run baseball, his longest outing of his career, and struck out nine while not issuing a walk. The nine punchouts are also a career-high. Beam became the first pitcher in the Royals minor league system to go eight innings since Beck Way accomplished the feat for Quad Cities in 2022. He is the first Natural pitcher to go eight innings since 2019 when Gerson Garabito did it against Frisco (Rangers).
The righty has been a consistent force for Northwest Arkansas all season. He leads the team in games started (25), wins (9), innings pitched (123.0), and ranks second in strikeouts (94).
Beam is the second Naturals pitcher this season to earn Pitcher of the Week and the 48th in club history. The last pitcher to be honored was left-hander Hunter Owen for the week of August 10th through August 16th for his start against Springfield (Cardinals) on August 15th.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios of San Antonio (Padres) was named Texas League Player of the Week after hitting .636 (14-for-22) with two home runs, five runs scored, and 13 RBI.
The Naturals will host the Tulsa Drillers (Dodgers) at Arvest Ballpark this week for the final homestand of the 2026 season: Tuesday, September 8th through Sunday, September 13th.