MAJOR AMBITIONS

The following is a listing of players with area ties who are competing in professional baseball.

Included in the list are each players' local connection, his last year as an amateur and his major league affiliation (if applicable). Statistics are through Sunday.

Steve Bieser, OF (Ste. Genevieve High School, Southeast Missouri State 1989) St. Louis Cardinals:

Bieser, a 12-year minor league veteran who has played parts of two seasons in the majors, is batting .262 with nine doubles, two triples, 10 RBIs, 31 runs scored and five stolen bases for the Class AAA Memphis (Tenn.) Redbirds.

Talley Haines, RHP (Cape Central High School, Southeast Missouri State, Freed Hardeman 1998) Tampa Bay Devil Rays:

Haines, who is in his third pro season and first with the Class AA Orlando (Fla.) Rays, has a 3-2 record with one save and a 1.42 ERA. In 38 innings, he has allowed 27 hits while striking out 30 and walking 18.

Dan Huesgen, RHP (Southeast Missouri State 2000), Toronto Blue Jays:

Huesgen, selected in the 38th round of this year's draft, is 0-1 with a 1.26 ERA for the Rookie League Queens (N.Y.) Kings. In 14 1/3 innings, he has allowed 16 hits while striking out eight and walking five.

Jeremy Johnson, OF (Egyptian High School, Southeast Missouri State 2000) Toronto Blue Jays:

Johnson, selected in the 26th round of this year's draft, is batting .369 with six home runs, 19 doubles, three triples, 40 RBIs, 50 runs scored and one stolen base for the Advanced Rookie League Medicine Hat (Alberta) Blue Jays.

Steve Lowe, IF (Southeast Missouri State 1999) Cleveland Indians:

Lowe, in his second pro season, is batting .267 with one home run, four doubles, three triples, 19 RBIs, 16 runs scored and three stolen bases for the Class A Columbus (Ga.) Redstixx.

Cliff Politte, RHP (Cape Girardeau Capahas 1997) Philadelphia Phillies:

Politte, who is in his fourth pro season and has spent parts of two previous seasons in the majors, was recently promoted to his second stint with the Phillies this year. He is 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA, allowing 29 hits while striking out 27 and walking 13 in 31 innings.

Kerry Robinson OF (Southeast Missouri State 1995) New York Yankees:

Robinson, who is in his sixth pro season and has spent brief parts of two seasons in the majors, is batting .291 with 14 doubles, seven triples, 24 RBIs, 55 runs scored and 29 stolen bases for the Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) Clippers.

Ryan Spille, LHP (Southeast Missouri State 1999) Toronto Blue Jays:

Spille, in his second pro season, was recently promoted to the Class AA Tennessee Smokies. In one appearance covering seven innings, he is 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA, allowing five hits while striking out one and walking three. For the Class A Dunedin (Fla.) Blue Jays, he was 10-6 with a 4.27 ERA, allowing 107 hits while striking out 82 and walking 35 in 109 2/3 innings.

Kevin Vent, RHP (Sikeston High School, Arkansas 1999) San Francisco Giants:

Vent, in his second pro season, is 2-6 with a 5.64 ERA for the Class A Bakersfield (Calif.) Blaze. In 60 2/3 innings, he has allowed 87 hits while striking out 46 and walking 37.

Matt Whiteside, RHP (Charleston High School, Arkansas State 1990) San Diego Padres:

Whiteside, who is in his 11th pro season and has spent most of five previous seasons in the majors, was recently sent back down from the Padres to Class AAA Las Vegas, where he started the year. With the Padres, he was 2-3 with a 4.14 ERA, allowing 32 hits while striking out 27 and walking 17 in 37 innings. Since going back to Las Vegas, he is 1-2 with a 2.87 ERA, allowing 10 hits while striking out 14 and walking eight in 15 2/3 innings.

Phil Warren, OF (Southeast Missouri State 2000):

Warren, who was not selected in this year's draft, recently signed with the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints of the Independent Frontier League. His is batting .394 (13-for-33) with one home run, two doubles, four RBIs and eight runs scored.