In the pros

Players from area schools now in professional baseball; included is each player's local connection, last year as an amateur and major league affiliation (if applicable).TIM ALVAREZ, LHP

Southeast 2003

San Francisco Giants

Alvarez, in his second pro season and first with Class A Hagerstown (Md.), is 1-3 with 14 saves and a 2.89 ERA. In 28 innings spanning 23 appearances, he has allowed 23 hits, struck out 19 and walked 8. He leads the South Atlantic League in saves.JAMES BEEVER, RHP

Southeast 2003

Beever, in his second pro season and first with independent Lincoln (Neb.), is 0-0 with one save and a 5.73 ERA. In 11 innings spanning seven appearances, he has allowed 13 hits, struck out five and walked three.CLEMENTE BONILLA, IF

Southeast 2002

Bonilla, in his third pro season and second with independent Sioux Falls (S.D), is batting .258 (16-for-62) with three doubles, six RBIs, 10 runs scored and two stolen bases.ZACH BOROWIAK, IF

Southeast 2003

Boston Red Sox

Borowiak, in his second pro season and first with Class A Augusta (Ga.), is batting .226 (38-for-168) with one triple, seven doubles, 12 RBIs, 16 runs scored and two stolen bases.JUSTIN CHRISTIAN, IF

Southeast 2003

Christian, in his second pro season with independent River City (Mo.), is batting .380 (27-for-71) with two home runs, eight doubles, 11 RBIs, 13 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. He leads the Frontier League in stolen bases, is tied for third in doubles and tied for fourth in batting average.TALLEY HAINES, RHP

Central High School, Southeast Freed Hardeman 1998

Toronto Blue Jays

Haines, in his seventh pro season and first with Class AAA Syracuse (N.Y.), is 1-1 with one save and a 3.53 ERA. In 35 2/3 innings spanning 18 appearances, he has allowed 34 hits, struck out 22 and walked eight.DARIN KINSOLVING, IF

Southeast 2000

Kinsolving, in his fifth pro season and first with independent Sioux Falls (S.D), is batting .235 (12-for-51) with two home runs, two doubles, nine RBIs and three runs scored.TODD PENNINGTON, RHP

Shawnee (Ill.) High School

Southeast 2001

Cleveland Indians

Pennington, in his fourth pro season, has not yet pitched this season because of an injury but he was recently assigned to Class A Kinston (N.C.).BRAD PURCELL, RHP

Southeast 2002

Purcell, in his third pro season and second with independent Winnipeg, is 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA. In 27 innings spanning four appearances, he has allowed 17 hits, struck out 16 and walked eight.KERRY ROBINSON, OF

Southeast 1995

San Diego Padres

Robinson, in his ninth pro season and first with the Padres after being traded from the Cardinals, is batting .241 (13-for-54) with one double, one RBI, eight runs scored and six stolen bases.BRANDON SMITH, RHP

Southeast 2002

Smith, in his third pro season and first with independent Gateway (Ill.), is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA. In 14 2/3 innings spanning four appearances, he has allowed 11 hits, struck out 13 and walked seven.DENVER STUCKEY, IF

Kelly High School

Southeast 2003

Stuckey, in his second pro season with independent Evansville (Ind.), is batting .253 (19-for-75) with two doubles, six RBIs, 14 runs scored and two stolen bases.PHIL WARREN, IF

Southeast 2000

Warren, in his fourth pro season and second with independent Gateway (Ill.), is batting .377 (29-for-77) with five home runs, eight doubles, 14 RBIs and 16 runs scored. He is second in the Frontier League in hits, third in runs, tied for fourth in home runs and tied for sixth in batting average.MATT WHITESIDE, RHP

Charleston High School,

Arkansas State 1990

Atlanta Braves

Whiteside, in his 15th pro season and first with Class AAA Richmond (Va.), is 2-1 with 16 saves and a 3.45 ERA. In 28 2/3 innings spanning 23 appearances, he has allowed 28 hits, struck out 24 and walked four. Whiteside, who has spent six seasons in the majors, is tied for first in the International League in saves.-- Marty Mishow