Former Southeast Missouri State baseball player returns to the major leagues

Former Southeast Missouri State baseball standout Justin Christian is back in the major leagues for the first time in three years.

Christian was called up from Class AAA Fresno, Calif., by the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. He started in center field that night at San Diego, going 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored from the leadoff spot.

Christian, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, again led off and played center field Wednesday against the Padres, going 0 for 2 with a walk.

San Francisco was off Thursday and begins a home series tonight against the Dodgers. Christian is expected to receive significant playing time the rest of the season as the Giants attempt to sort through their unsettled outfield situation.

"I'm really excited for Justin because he's fought through the minor league system and he's worked really hard," Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan said. "He's a hometown kid. It's got to be a dream come true for him."

The 31-year-old Christian's only other major league experience consists of 40 at-bats over 24 games with the Yankees in 2008. He hit .250 with three doubles, six RBIs and seven stolen bases in eight attempts.

Christian's baseball career was threatened in 2009 when he suffered a serious right shoulder injury. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews doubted Christian would play again, but he was back on the field in the Yankees' organization by May 2010.

The Giants signed Christian to a minor-league deal before this season and he sparkled, first at Class AA Richmond, Va., and later at Class AAA Fresno, where he hit .338 with 10 home runs, 20 doubles, 41 RBIs and 36 steals in 39 attempts while playing 64 games.

"Hopefully, this is the beginning of something great," Christian told the Chronicle after being called up by the Giants.

Christian played just one season at Southeast after transferring from Auburn in 2003. He was the Tigers' starting second baseman in 2001 before missing the entire 2002 campaign with a torn labrum.

"When he got here, he could barely pick up a ball," Hogan said. "He put in a lot of hard work."

Christian's only Southeast campaign was a big one. He batted .376 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 48 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts while playing second base. He was the Ohio Valley Conference rookie of the year and was selected to a pair of All-American teams.

"He had a great year for us," Hogan said. "He's a tremendous athlete and a really good kid, a first-class person all the way."

The speedy Christian, who was not drafted and originally began his pro career in the independent Frontier League, has put up impressive minor league numbers in nine seasons. He has a career minor league batting average of .293 with 341 steals in 394 attempts.

"He's more than paid his dues, not only with the injuries but starting out in independent ball and working his way up," Hogan said. "He had a tremendous Triple A season this year."

Hogan said he wouldn't be surprised if Christian makes a strong push for a starting job with the Giants from the outset next year.

"He's got all the tools to do it," Hogan said.