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). Statistics are through Thursday.TIM ALVAREZ, LHP

Southeast 2003

San Francisco Giants

Alvarez, in his second pro season and first with Class A Hagerstown (Md.), is 1-4 with 14 saves and a 3.41 ERA. In 29 innings spanning 24 appearances, he has allowed 26 hits, struck out 20 and walked eight. He is tied for first in 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 5.79 ERA. In 14 innings spanning nine appearances, he has allowed 18 hits, struck out 10 and walked three.CLEMENTE BONILLA, IF

Southeast 2002

Bonilla, in his third pro season and first with independent St. Paul (Minn.), is batting .258 (17-for-66) with four 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 .219 (41-for-187) with one home run, one triple, eight doubles, 16 RBIs, 18 runs scored and three stolen bases.JUSTIN CHRISTIAN, IF

Southeast 2003

Christian, in his second pro season with independent River City (Mo.), is batting .430 (43-for-100) with two home runs, 10 doubles, 15 RBIs, 22 runs scored and 23 stolen bases. He leads the Frontier League in batting average and stolen bases, is tied for first in hits, is tied for second in runs and is tied for third in doubles.GARY GILBERT, IF

Southeast 2004

Gilbert, in his first pro season with independent Gateway (Ill.) after recently joining the team, is batting .556 (5-for-9) with two home runs, one triple, one double, five RBIs and five runs scored.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 3.49 ERA. In 38 2/3 innings spanning 20 appearances, he has allowed 36 hits, struck out 23 and walked eight.DARIN KINSOLVING, IF

Southeast 2000

Kinsolving, in his fifth pro season and first with independent Sioux Falls (S.D), is batting .254 (18-for-71) with four home runs, five doubles, 18 RBIs and six 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. He split time last year in Class A and Class AA.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 .299 (20-for-67) with one double, three RBIs, 10 runs scored and eight stolen bases.BRANDON SMITH, RHP

Southeast 2002

Smith, in his third pro season and first with independent Gateway (Ill.), is 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA. In 19 2/3 innings spanning five appearances, he has allowed 19 hits, struck out 19 and walked seven.DENVER STUCKEY, IF

Kelly High School

Southeast 2003

Stuckey, in his second pro season with independent Evansville (Ind.), is batting .275 (28-for-102) with one home run, one triple, two doubles, seven RBIs, 20 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 .360 (36-for-100) with seven home runs, nine doubles, 17 RBIs and 20 runs scored. He is tied for second in the Frontier League in home runs, is fourth in hits, is tied for fifth in doubles and is 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 2-2 with 16 saves and a 3.52 ERA. In 30 2/3 innings spanning 25 appearances, he has allowed 30 hits, struck out 25 and walked five. Whiteside, who has spent six seasons in the majors, is second in the International League in saves.-- Marty Mishow