Despite proving that he is a major league player over the course of a year career, former Salmen and LSU star Mike Fontenot was looking for an opportunity to start the 2012 season. The wait was worth it.

Fontenot is back in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies. In six games, Fontenot is 4-for-10 (.400) in a reserve role. If he continues to produce, he will get more opportunities for an offensively challenged team.

Former Loranger and SLU star Wade Miley continues to shine for the Arizona Diamondbacks. While his team has been a bit disappointment, Miley is helping the D-Backs stay afloat, going 4-1 with a sterling 2.14 ERA. In his last outing, Miley pitched seven shutout innings, allowing just six hits and fanning three as Arizona won 2-0 at Kansas City.

Speaking of Kansas City, After opening the season in Triple A, former LSU star Louis Coleman is showing the Royals that he belongs in the bigs. Coleman has strung together five straight scoreless appearances and eight of nine for Kansas City. In nine and a third innings covering those nine appearances, Coleman has allowed just one run, six hits while striking out six.

Baton Rouge native Andy Pettite is like fine wine. After a bit of a shaky first start in his return to the Yankees, Pettitte pitched a gem in his second outing, blanking the Reds through eight innings in a 4-0 win on May 18. Pettite pitched eight shutout innings, allowing just four hits, walking just one and striking out nine in a brilliant performance against a pretty good hitting club. The win was Pettitte's first since 2010. While not ready to apply for AARP like Jamie Moyer, Pettite turns 40 on June 15.

We have been singing the praises of former ULL star Jonathan Lucroy all season long and we continue to do so. He deserves it. Lucroy continues his drive toward an All-Star game appearance. He has now hit in 8-of-9 games (12-for-30/.400). He had a monster game on May 20 in a 16-4 victory over the Twins at Miller Park, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, one a grand slam, and 7 RBI in the offensive performance of a lifetime. Lucroy is now hitting .344 with eight doubles, four triples, four home runs and 27 RBI.

In Triple A, it has been a rough time for former Jesuit star Ryan Adams. After appearing in 29 games for the Baltimore Orioles in 2011, Adams did not make the big league team out of spring training and has struggled early this season for Norfolk, hitting just .210 in 33 games. Now, Adams is on the disabled list after fracturing his right thumb.

After starting the season on the disabled list, former Tulane star Brad Emaus is heating up for Triple A Buffalo (New York Mets). Emaus it up to 282 in 14 games and 39 at-bats, going 7-for-19 (.368) in his last six games.

Speaking of former Tulane stars, Brandon Gomes is once again proving that he is too good for Triple A hitters. While Gomes struggled in games for Tampa Bay and has been up-and-down between the Rays and Durham, the right-hander is a bull for the Bulls, going 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA and three saves in 10 appearances with 19 strikeouts in just 13 innings while allowing just six hits. In just five appearances with the Rays this season, Gomes is 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA, hardly a sampling. Last year, Gomes was very good for Tampa Bay, going 2-1 with a 2.92 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 37 innings while allowing just 34 hits. He can pitch in the majors. With those numbers, you can't keep a good man down for long.

Former LSU star Matt Clark remains hot for Tucson (San Diego). Clark has hit in eight of nine games (12-for-37/.324). He went 4-for-5 with 3 RBI against Nashville on May 17. Clark has homered in three of his last four games. With the offensively challenged, lowly Padres desperately in need of power, are they paying closer attention to Clark?

Former LSU star Brian Tallet was released by Tucson (San Diego) on May 17. Tallet was struggling, going 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in 11 appearances for the Padres.

Former LSU pitcher Edgar Ramirez earned a promotion from Double A Binghamton to Triple A Buffalo (New York Mets) on May 20. At Binghamton, Ramirez was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in 10 appearances.

Even though he is not in the majors, Wade LeBlanc of Lake Charles and Barbe High School was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for May 13-20. LeBlanc had a pair of strong eight-inning starts with 19 strikeouts in 16 innings and a 1.69 ERA. From 2008-2011, LeBlanc went 17-22 with a 4.54 ERA for the San Diego Padres. If he continues to pitch well, he may get another shot at the bigs with the Marlins.

In Double A, former LSU pitcher Blake Martin is throwing well for New Britain (Minnesota) in the Eastern League. Martin has strung together seven consecutive scoreless outings (8 innings, 6 hits, 7 K's) to lower his ERA to 2.40 for the Rock Cats. He is 1-1 in 15 appearances with 14 strikeouts in 15 innings.

Former Tulane hurler Aaron Loup continues his fine season for New Hampshire (Toronto) in the Eastern League. Loup is 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA and two saves with 19 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched.

Former ULL star Danny Farquhar combined with Brett Cecil and Ron Uviedo on a no-hitter as New Hampshire downed Portland on May 21. Former LSU hurler Anthony Ranaudo got knocked around and was the losing pitcher.

A pair of Hometown Heroes are among the league leaders in the Southern League. Former Westgate and LSU star Jared Mitchell leads the league with seven triples while former Tulane speedster Josh Prince is third in stolen bases with 13.

Former LSU star Sean Ochinko was promoted from Single A Dunedin to Double A New Hampshire (Toronto) of the Eastern League on May 17. Ochinko was hitting .306 with 13 RBI for Dunedin. He homered for the Fisher Cats on May 20 against Trenton.

In Single A ball, former Thibodaux and Nicholls State pitcher Clint Dempster now has six consecutive scoreless outings in relief (9 innings, 1 hit, 9 K's) for Beloit (Minnesota) of the Midwest League. Dempster is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 13 appearances, giving up just 11 hits in 17.1 innings.

After a bit of a slow start, former Tulane star Rob Segedin has caught fire for the Tampa Yankees (New York). Segedin has a 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .292 with six home runs and 26 RBI. He is second on his team in hitting, tied for seventh in the Florida State League with six home runs and tied for sixth in the league with 26 RBI.

Our HOMETOWN HEROES include all players from Louisiana who are in the major leagues and all players from the Greater New Orleans area high schools and from LSU, Tulane, Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana and Delgado. Any Louisiana native or player who played high school or college baseball in Louisiana and is playing for New Orleans Zephyrs has been added as well by popular demand.

If you have any additions to make, please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MAJOR LEAGUES

SCOTT BAKER--Minnesota Twins (Captain Shreve) **DL—Elbow surgery. Out for yr.

BRIAN BOGUSEVIC—Houston Astros (Tulane) .218, 4-2B, 2-3B, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 6 SB

CLAY BUCCHOLZ--Boston Red Sox (McNeese State) 4-2, 7.84 ERA, 9 starts

STEVE CLEVENGER—Chicago Cubs (SLU) .500 (11-for-22), 5 doubles, 2 RBI (D.L.)

LOUIS COLEMAN—Kansas City Royals (LSU) 0-0, 2.92 ERA, 10 Games

MIKE FONTENOT—Philadelphia Phillies (Salmen, LSU) .400 (4-for-10)

CHARLIE FURBUSH—Seattle Mariners (LSU) 2-1, 4.02 ERA, 15 app., 17 K's, 15.2 inn.

CHAD GAUDIN—Miami Marlins (Crescent City) 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 8 games, 14.2 inn.

JOHNNY GIAVOTELLA—Kansas City Royals (Jesuit, UNO) .208 (5-for-24), 1-2B, 3 RBI

AARON HILL—Arizona Diamondbacks (LSU) .234, 5 HR, 5-2B, 2-3B, 15 RBI

JONATHAN LUCROY--Milwaukee Brewers (ULL) .344, 8-2B, 4-3B, 4 HR, 27 RBI

WADE MILEY—Arizona Diamondbacks (Loranger/SLU) 5-1, 2.14 ERA

LOGAN MORRISON—Miami Marlins (Northshore) .239, 2 HR, 3-2B, 10 RBI

MICAH OWINGS—San Diego Padres (Tulane) 0-2, 2.79 ERA, 6 appearances (D.L.)

JONATHAN PAPELBON—Philadelphia Phillies (B.R.) 0-1, 2.20 ERA, 12 Saves, 19 K's

ANDY PETTITE—New York Yankees (Baton Rouge) 1-1, 2.51 ERA (2 games)

JUAN PIERRE—Philadelphia Phillies (Alexandria) .304, 6 SB, 2-2B, 7 RBI

RYAN THERIOT—San Francisco Giants (Broadmoor, LSU) .179, 1 double, 2 RBI

RICKIE WEEKS--Milwaukee Brewers (Southern) .158, 6-2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI

BRIAN WILSON--San Francisco Giants (LSU) 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2 games—DL (Elbow)

AAA

RYAN ADAMS—Norfolk (Jesuit) .210, 10 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI (D.L.)

CHAD BECK—Las Vegas (ULL) 1-0, 1.37 ERA (18 appearances)

REID BRIGNAC—Durham (St. Amant) .147, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 7 RBI

JOEY BUTLER—Round Rock (UNO) .296, 13-2B, 8 HR, 27 RBI **10th in PCL in doubles

JIMMY CESARIO—Colorado Springs (Jesuit) .258, 2 RBI in 14 games

MATT CLARK--Tucson (LSU) .259, 6 doubles, 8 HR, 23 RBI

BRAD EMAUS—Buffalo (Tulane) .282 (14 Games), 1 HR, 3 RBI

BRANDON GOMES—Durham (Tulane) 2-0, 0.69 ERA, 3 SV., 10 games, 19 K's, 13 inn.

MARK HAMILTON—Memphis (Tulane) .158, 2 HR, 7 RBI in 17 games

BEAU JONES—New Orleans (Destrehan) 1-1, 5.89 ERA, 15 games

CHASE LAMBIN—New Orleans (ULL) .259, 2-2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI in 81 at-bats

WADE LEBLANC—New Orleans (Barbe) 2-3, 4.11 ERA, 9 starts, 58 K's, 57 innings

D.J. LEMAHIEU—Colorado Springs (LSU) .315, 8-2B, 2-3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI, 11 SB

LUKE MONTZ—New Orleans (Acadiana) .203, 2-2B, 9 HR, 22 RBI in 40 games

XAVIER PAUL—Syracuse (Slidell, Rummel) .300, 9-2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI

EDGAR RAMIREZ—Buffalo (LSU) 0-0, 3.00 ERA (1 game, 3 innings)

BRIAN TALLET—Tucson (LSU) 0-2, 8.44 ERA, 11 games (Released)

RYAN VERDUGO—Omaha (LSU) 3-1, 3.75 ERA, 9 starts, 50.1 inn., 35 hits

AA

PRESTON CLAIBORNE—Trenton (Tulane) 2-2, 3.95 ERA, 2 SV., 31 K's in 27.1 inn.

DANNY FARQUHAR—New Hampshire (ULL) 0-1, 2.33 ERA, 27 inn., 30 K's

WILL HARRIS--Tulsa (Slidell, LSU)  1-0, 1.56 ERA, 1 Save, 20 K's, 17.1 inn.

BRAD HAWPE—Frisco (LSU) .280, 6-2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI

LEE HAYDEL--Huntsville (Riverside, Delgado) .287, 2-2B, 1-3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI

TOMMY MANZELLA—Huntsville (Hannan, Tulane) .161 (5-for-31), 2 RBI in 10 games

BLAKE MARTIN—New Britain (LSU) 1-1, 2.40 ERA, 15 games, 14 K's, 15

JARED MITCHELL--Birmingham (Westgate/LSU).258, 8-2B ,7-3B, 2 HR, 10-SB, 29 RBI

AARON LOUP—New Hampshire (Hahnville, Tulane) 0-1, 1.59 ERA, 19 games, 2 saves

SEAN OCHINKO—New Hampshire (LSU) .200 (2-for-10) 1 HR, 1 RBI in 3 games

JOSH PRINCE—Huntsville (Tulane) .244, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 13 SB (3rd Southern League)

ANTHONY RANAUDO—Portland (LSU) 0-1, 9.35 ERA (2 starts)

CRAIG WESTCOTT—Richmond (Hannan, Delgado) 3-4, 4.13 ERA, 9 starts

JOSH ZEID—Corpus Christi (Tulane) 1-0, 9.20 ERA in 13 games, 14.2 inn., 16 K's

A

BEN ALSUP—Asheville (LSU) 5-1, 4.96 ERA, 8 starts

JUSTIN BOUDREAUX—Great Lakes (Dutchtown/SLU) .144, 3-2B, 2-3B, 8 RBI

CLINT DEMPSTER—Beloit (Thibodaux, Nicholls State) 2-1, 2.08 ERA, 13 Games

SAM HONECK--Savannah (Tulane) .133 (2-of-15), 1 double—RETIRED

LEON LANDRY—Rancho Cucamonga (Baker/LSU) .319, 9-2B, 4-3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 11 SB

CHANDLER LAURENT—Modesto (Fontainebleau, Delgado) .161, 5-2B, 1 HR, 18 RBI

LUCAS LEBLANC--Greenville (Central Lafourche, Delgado) .246, 3-2B, 3 RBI

SEAN OCHINKO--Dunedin (LSU) .306, 12-2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI

RYAN O' SHEA—Frederick (Mandeville, UNO) DISABLED LIST—OUT FOR YEAR

MATTY OTT—Greenville (Holy Cross, LSU) 3-2, 3.75 ERA, 11 games

TAYLOR ROGERS—San Jose (Tulane) 2-3, 3.94 ERA, 9 starts

AUSTIN ROSS--Brevard (LSU) 0-0, 1.54 ERA in 3 starts—7 Day DISABLED LIST

ROB SEGEDIN--Tampa (Tulane) .292, 15-2B, 6 HR (7th IN FSL), 26 RBI (6th in FSL)

RYAN SCHIMPF--Dunedin (St. Paul, LSU) .261, 14-2B, 2-3B, 5 HR, 23 RBI