Ian Kinsler, former Missouri baseball player and current second baseman for the Texas Rangers, has been selected for the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 13 in Anaheim, Calif. This is Kinsler’s second selection to the All-Star team.
Kinsler will be a reserve for the American League team. He finished second at his position in voting behind Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox. Pedroia is injured and unavailable to play in the game, so Kinsler replaces him on the roster.
Myles Smith, Divine Child (Dearborn, Mich.), Infield, Sr - An all-state pick by the Detroit News, Smith helped lead Divine Child to the Division 2 championship over Grand Rapids West Catholic. Signed to play at Missouri, Smith batted .343 with eight home runs, 11 doubles and 30 RBI. He also went 8-1 as a pitcher with a 1.58 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 68 innings pitched.
■ Starting pitcher Rick Zagone fared well in his Double-A debut, but he didn't factor in the decision as the Baysox topped Erie, 4-3, at Prince George's Stadium, says the Baltimore Sun.
Zagone gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings, striking out six batters and issuing three walks.
James Hudelson , MU recruit, has been named to the Prospect League All Star team. James is having a great summer as the closer for the Hannibal Cavemen.
■ Texas Collegiate League announces All-Star rosters (texascollegiateleague.com) The Texas Collegiate League today announced North and South rosters for the 2010 TCL All-Star Game, to be held Monday, July 5, in Victoria. . . . Texas also holds down three of the four starting infield positions. Speedster Brock Hebert, whose 26 stolen bases are closing in on the TCL record, starts at shortstop alongside teammate Eric Garcia. . . . South reserves are infielder Brian Nephew and outfielder Conner Mach, both from the host Generals, and Tomcats catcher Nick DeSantiago.
Fresno Grizzlies second baseman Brock Bond and pitcher Steve Edlefsen made the preliminary Pacific Coast League roster for the 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game. . . .
Bond, who has played in 76 of the Grizzlies' first 80 games, will start at second base for the PCL. He is batting .300 with 17 doubles, one home run and 28 RBIs. He was the No. 6 vote-getter, the PCL said.
One of the recent additions to our list of MU Jersey Numbers is #25, Tim Hawkins.
Hawkins played Outfield for the Tigers from 1988-89, leading the 1989 Tigers in many categories and earning several awards:
Batting average (.372)
Hits (83)
Doubles (16)
Triples (8)
RBI (59)
At-bats (223)
All District IV
All Big 8
All Big 8 Tournament
He is tied for third for all-time MU single season triples (tied at 8 with his teammate, Dave Silvestri), is tied at #6 in career triples (11), and is #7 in Career Slugging Percentage (.562).
Hawkins' bio at TimHawkins.net refers only briefly to his baseball days, focusing more on the career path he has followed in the years since:
A former All-American baseball player, he traded the sports stage for the comedy stage and never looked back. The St. Louis native taught himself to play guitar and tested the waters at area comedy clubs. But he determined early in his career that he did not want to focus on the comedy club circuit alone. “People love stand-up, but many choose not to go to comedy clubs. So we’ve gone underground, even counter-culture in a way. And it’s a blast.”
I had heard of Tim Hawkins, the comedian, and watched a number of his videos online. I had also heard of Tim Hawkins the Mizzou Baseball player (his time at Mizzou ended just before I began following the team).
But I never made the connection that they are one and the same until a teammate supplied his jersey number and mentioned he is a comedian ("He said the first time I met him I spit on his shoe. That is why I’m afraid to show up at one of his shows. I have a feeling I might be a part of the act.").
Here's one of my favorite YouTube clips of Tim Hawkins' comedy. There are a lot more on YouTube and at TimHawkins.net.
I've updated our list of MU Jersey Numbers and the players who wore them, based on some e-mails. I was glad especially to add another Tiger who went on to a career in the Major Leagues.
#4 Dave Silvestri (Played several years in the Major Leagues)
