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MLB

Where Are They Now: Hunter Pence

By
March 3, 2009
TROY,N.Y.---Hunter Pence was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 40th Round of the 2002 June Draft, but decided to push back his professional baseball career for a couple of years and attended Texarkana Junior College.

Pence made his professional debut in 2004 with the ValleyCats, helping guide the 'Cats to a 50-15 record and a Stedler Division Championship. As a ValleyCat, Pence hit .296 with eight home runs and 37 RBI. His .518 slugging percentage led Tri-City and ranked second in the New York-Penn League. Pence also excelled in the field, being named ValleyCats Defensive Player of the Month in August.

Pence began the 2005 season with Single A Lexington where he earned South Atlantic Player of the Year honors, hitting .338 with 25 home runs and 60 RBI in 80 games. The right-handed hitter was also named Lexington's Most Valuable Player. On July 26, Pence was promoted to Salem and posted a .305 batting average, six home runs and 30 RBI.

Heading into 2006, Pence was ranked the sixth best prospect in the Astros organization by Baseball America. Pence also moved up to Double A Corpus Christi and led the Hooks in home runs (28), RBI (95) and runs scored (97).

Pence finally got the call up to the major leagues in 2007. After starting the season with Triple A Round Rock and playing 25 games for the Express, the Astros called up Pence in late April. Pence contributed immediately and was named National League Rookie of the Month in May. Pence excelled in his first major league season, hitting .322 with 69 RBI and 17 home runs in 108 games for Houston. His .347 batting average led the National League at the All-Star Break. Pence set Astros' rookie records for extra-base hits (56) and doubles (30) while leading all rookies in extra-base hits, doubles, triples and total bases.

The former 'Cats outfielder enjoyed an entire season at the major league level in 2008, playing in 157 games for the Astros. Pence hit .269 with 25 home runs and 83 RBI. After struggling in August, Pence hit .302 with five home runs down the stretch for the Astros as they made a push for the National League Wild Card.