Sept. 26, 2006

ARLINGTON, Texas - After helping lead his team to the Texas League championship, former UT Arlington outfielder Hunter Pence was named to the 2006 Minor League All-Star first team selected by the Baseball America staff. The team consists of the top 14 players in minor league baseball, regardless of level of play.

Pence, considered by Baseball America as the best player in the Houston Astros organization, helped lead the Corpus Christi Hooks to the Texas League championship by hitting .283, with 31 doubles, eight triples, 28 home runs, 95 RBIs and 97 runs scored. He ranked in the top five in the league in runs scored, triples, home runs, RBIs and total bases (279). For his efforts, Pence was named to the Post-Season All-Star Team, as well as the Double A All-Star Team.

Earlier this season, Pence showed his talents on the grandest of stages when he was the starting right fielder in the 2006 MLB Futures Game held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa., during All-Star Weekend. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in that game and saying `that it was something he will never forget.'