Published: July 03, 2009 10:35 am      

Minor League Baseball: Former ’Cats dotting minor league rosters across the U.S.

Texas State is beginning to have a reputation as a professional baseball breeding ground.

After the 2009 First-Year Players Draft, the Bobcats now have eight former players in the minor leagues.

Matt Miller, who plays for the Colorado Sky Sox in the Pacific Coast League, leads the charge. Miller is one level away (Triple-A) from cracking the Colorado Rockies’ roster.

He is the closest thing to automatic in the Sky Sox lineup, batting .331 with 47 runs scored and 63 runs-batted in. Miller’s sprayed 26 doubles and stolen two bases.

Kyle Anson is the next-closest former player to cracking a big league team, as he’s now with the Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League (Double-A).

The former Texas State third baseman catches for Trenton and is batting .234 in 37 games. He’s driven in 13 runs, but struck out 21 times.

Thomas Field, who was drafted last year by the Colorado Rockies, currently plays for the Asheville Tourists in the Class A South Atlantic League.

Field shot up the organization after a superb first season in rookie ball. He’s batting .306 in 46 games with 19 RBIs, yet he’s struck out 30 times.

Michael Hart, who was picked by the Oakland A’s in the same draft as Field, plays for the Kane County Cougars. Hart was 0-2 with a 2.96 earned-run average until a shoulder injury sidelined him for two weeks.

Ben Theriot, who went to the Kansas City Royals in this year’s draft, currently plays for the Idaho Falls Chukars. He’s batting .250 with four RBIs and five walks in four games.

Paul Goldschmidt, who went to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 8th round this year, loves playing in Missoula, Mont. Goldschmidt is feasting on Pioneer League pitching, belting two home runs and batting .361.

Kane Holbrooks (Twins) and Lance Loftin (Blue Jays) are also in the minor leagues.