KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City T-Bones announced today the Cincinnati Reds have purchased the contract of infielder Taylor Featherston. He is the fifth T-Bone player in July and the seventh this season to be sold to an MLB organization.

Taylor Featherston hit .202 in 25 games with five home runs and 15 RBIs while holding down the short stop position for KC.  Featherston is currently on a six-game hitting streak and has driven in at least one run in five of his last six games. Featherston came to Kansas City after playing in 55 games this season for AAA Rochester in the Minnesota Twins organization in the International League.  Featherston hit four home runs and knocked in 21 RBIs with the Redwings, hitting .167 before his release on June 18. He signed a minor league contract with the Twins in December of 2017.

Featherston graduated from James E. Taylor High School in Katy, Texas. He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) where he played college baseball for the Horned Frogs baseball team. The Colorado Rockies selected Featherston in the fifth round of the 2011 MLB Draft; he spent four years in their organization, reaching AA.  In 2014, he played for the Tulsa Drillers of the Class AA Texas League where he hit .260 with 16 home runs, and 57 RBIs for the Drillers.  

The Chicago Cubs selected Featherston from the Rockies in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft and then traded him to the Angels for cash considerations. Featherston competed for a role with the Angels as a utility infielder in spring training and made the club out of spring training, earning a spot on the opening day roster for the “halos”. He made his major league debut on April 12 and would go on to hit .162 during the 2015 season, receiving 154 at bats in 101 games played.

During the 2015-16 offseason, the Angels designated Featherston for assignment. The Philadelphia Phillies acquired Featherston from the Angels for a player to be named later or cash considerations. He began the 2016 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Class AAA International League. The Phillies promoted Featherston to the major leagues on July 25 where he would play in 19 games going 3-for-26 with an RBI with the big club. Philadelphia designated Featherston for assignment on September 10.

Featherston began the 2017 season with AAA Lehigh Valley in the International League, but on June 9 the Phillies traded Featherston to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. He would split time with the Rays and at AAA Durham. With Tampa Featherston hit .179 in 17 games with two homers and six RBIs, and while at Durham, he would hit .200 in 31 games with four home runs and 15 RBIs. Overall in his MLB career, Featherston played 137 games with four home runs and a .160 batting average.

Featherston is the 37th Kansas City player and the seventh this season to have his contract purchased while with the T-Bones. In May, the Washington Nationals purchased the contract of outfielder Adam Brett Walker, and the New York Mets purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Cody Martin. On July 3, the Cubs purchased the contract of left-handed T-Bones pitcher James Buckelew. On July 7, the Cincinnati Reds purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Carlos Diaz. On July 13, the Seattle Mariners purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Joe Filomeno, and on July 17 the Texas Rangers picked up OF/IF Nick Torres.

The T-Bones have consistently held the second-place spot in the American Association and currently have a 39-21 record and a .650 winning percentage. The T-Bones continue their nine-game home stand Tuesday night at 7:05pm at T-Bones Stadium, beginning a three-game series with the Lincoln Saltdogs. Catch all the action on T-Bones MixLR Channel , 107.9 inside the park and via video stream on AmericanAssociationBaseballTV.com.

Season, group, mini-plans and nightly party suites are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Box Office at T-Bones Stadium. Call the Box Office at 913-328-5618 or purchase and print at www.tbonesbaseball.com. Box office hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday – Friday and 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Saturday. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the T-Bones Media Relations Department at (817) 739-3693. Stay tuned to www.tbonesbaseball.com. and the T-Bones Facebook and Twitter pages for updates throughout the season.

--T-Bones--

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