Aguila approaching Z's home run record

Chris Aguila had 94 home runs in 11 minor league seasons before joining the New Orleans Zephyrs in 2008, so the notion of him one day becoming the franchise's career home run leader would have been considered far-fetched, to say the least.

But after slugging two home runs in Wednesday's series finale in Las Vegas, Aguila sits on the cusp of Zephyrs history, needing just four more home runs to match the career total of J.R. Phillips, who hit 56 home runs from 1997-98 and 2000.

Phillips needed 233 games to pass then-record holder Daryle Ward, who had hit 53 homers in three seasons as a Zephyr. Aguila has hit 52 home runs in 229 games with New Orleans over parts of three seasons.

But Phillips had a reputation as a home run hitter, having three minor league seasons with 20 or more dingers before becoming a Zephyr, and sandwiching a 41-homer campaign with Colorado Springs in 1999 between stints in New Orleans.

Although Aguila set a national high school record by hitting 29 home runs as a senior at Reno's McQueen High School, his power was slow to develop at the professional level.

Chosen by the Florida Marlins as a third baseman in the third round of the 1997 draft, Aguila's highest single-season total before becoming a Zephyr was 15 home runs for Class A Kane County in 1999.

By 2006, Aguila had spent more time in the Marlins organization than any player in franchise history, including 141 games at the Major League level. After being outrighted off the 40-man roster, Aguila opted to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but spent an injury-plagued campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Aguila signed with the New York Mets in the offseason, and became a fixture in the middle of the Zephyrs' lineup, swatting a career-best 29 home runs, falling one shy of the single-season record established by Phil Hiatt and Mike Coolbaugh, and receiving two promotions to the big league club. The big campaign earned him a contract to play in Japan, but that lasted just 14 games.

He rejoined New Orleans late in 2010, hitting two home runs in 10 games, and was invited to return in 2011, where he has made the most of the opportunity. He was named the Pacific Coast League's Player of the Week for July 18-24 after batting .517 with six home runs and 12 RBI in seven games. Aguila's most recent home run binge gives him a league-leading 10 since the All-Star break.

Aguila's pursuit of the club's home run record continues Friday, when the Zephyrs open a four-game series against the Reno Aces. As if the opportunity to set the record against his hometown team isn't enough, doing it at Zephyr Field would add another memorable moment to his career in the Big Easy.

When Aguila received his first promotion to the majors with the Marlins in 2004, he was at the Shrine on Airline as a member of the Albuquerque Isotopes.

"I got my first call-up here," Aguila said, "so New Orleans will always be special to me."