in 2014, playing for the northwest arkansas naturals he batted .269/.352/.427 with 65 runs (tied for 6th in the league), 25 doubles (tied for 5th), 38 stolen bases (3rd) while being caught 6 times, and 9 hit by pitch (tied for 6th) in 524 at bats. adams was a mid-season texas league all star and post-season all star. on september 1, 2014, the royals promoted adams to the major leagues. he made his major league debut that night, replacing raúl ibañez as a pinch runner in the eighth inning of the royals' game against the texas rangers.