Xavier Paul has gotten into the swing of things for the surging Cincinnati Reds

Xavier Paul has a new lease on his baseball life and he is enjoying it.

The former Slidell and Rummel star is back in the majors with the first place Cincinnati Reds and contributing to their hot streak.

Paul went 3-for-5 in his second start for the Reds in left field as Cincinnati rallied with three runs in the top of the ninth inning in a 4-2 victory over the Astros in Houston. It was a complete effort for Paul who stole a base and also threw out Marwin Gonzalez at third base in the fourth inning.

Taking a chance paid off for Paul when he asked for his release from the Washington organization after not getting called up from Triple A Syracuse, where he hit .315/.376/.512. After signing with the Reds, Paul went 12-for-25 (.480) for Triple-A Louisville before getting called up by Cincinnati. Playing in Houston, the 27-year-old Paul was in the major league ballpark closest to his hometown of Slidell which allowed family members to attend the game at Minute Maid Park. He gave them many reasons to cheer.

The comeback of former St. Amant and ULM (NLU) ace Ben Sheets continues. After a brilliant first start, Sheets backed it up with a terrific second start. Sheets went six innings, allowing no runs on five hits with six strikeouts in a 4-0 victory over the Nationals in Washington on July 21. In two starts, Sheets is 2-0 with a perfect ERA. In 12 innings, he has allowed seven hits with 11 strikeouts in his return to the majors for the first time since 2010.

In Triple A, former Jesuit and UNO star Johnny Giavotella had a big homecoming, going 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals) past the New Orleans Zephyrs, 5-4 on Tuesday night at Zephyr Field (see recap and video). Giavotella is hitting .325 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and 50 RBI.

On July 19, former LSU slugger Todd Linden of Fresno (San Francisco Giants) reached a milestone. He hit a solo home run against Las Vegas, his 80th in his Grizzlies career and now holds the franchise's all-time career home run record. Linden is hitting .277 with eight home runs, 19 doubles and 47 RBI.

Meanwhile, a pair of former LSU standouts who become first round picks moved closer to the big league this week.

Jared Mitchell, the Chicago White Sox first round pick (23rd overall) in 2009, has been promoted to the Charlotte Knights from Double-A Birmingham by the White Sox. The 23-year old outfielder was leading the Southern League in triples with 12 at the time of the promotion. For the season, he was hitting .240 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI (tied for fifth most in the Southern League). Mitchell is a Westgate High product who also played wide receiver for LSU's football team.

Another ex-LSU outfielder, Mikie Mahtook, has been moved up to Double-A Montgomery by the Tampa Bay Rays. Mahtook was a teammate of Mitchell's on the 2009 College World Series Champions at LSU along before the Rays drafted him 31st overall in 2011. The St. Thomas More alum was batting .290 with five home runs and 19 stolen bases in 25 attempts before the promotion.

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, Delgado and other Louisiana colleges. 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.

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MAJOR LEAGUES

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

CHAD BECK—Toronto Blue Jays (ULL) 1-0, 2.84 ERA, 12 saves, 6.1 inn., 5 hits

BRIAN BOGUSEVIC—Houston Astros (Tulane) .218, 8-2B, 2-3B, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 10 SB

REID BRIGNAC—Tampa Bay Devil Rays (St. Amant) .118, 0 doubles, 0 HR, 1 RBI

CLAY BUCHHOLZ--Boston Red Sox (McNeese State) 8-3, 4.93 ERA, 17 starts

STEVE CLEVENGER—Chicago Cubs (SLU) .279, 9 doubles, 1 HR, 14 RBI

LOUIS COLEMAN—Kansas City Royals (LSU) 0-0, 4.11 ERA, 23 hits, 36 K's, 30.2 inn.

MIKE FONTENOT—Philadelphia Phillies (Salmen, LSU) .308, 2-2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI

CHAD GAUDIN—Miami Marlins (Crescent City) 1-1, 4.73 ERA, 24 games

AARON HILL—Arizona Diamondbacks (LSU) .304, 13 HR, 23-2B, 5-3B, 45 RBI

WADE LEBLANC—Miami Marlins (Barbe) 1-0, 0.75 ERA, 8 games, 8 K's, 12 inn.

AARON LOUP—Toronto Blue Jays (Hahnville, Tulane) 0-1, 3.38 ERA, 4 games

JONATHAN LUCROY--Milwaukee Brewers (ULL) .345, 10-2B, 4-3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI (D.L.)

WADE MILEY—Arizona Diamondbacks (Loranger/SLU) 11-5, 3.02 ERA, 113.1 inn., 101 hits

JIM MILLER—Oakland A's (ULM) 2-1, 2.30 ERA, 21 games, 22 hits in 27.1 innings

LOGAN MORRISON—Miami Marlins (Northshore) .237, 11 HR, 15-2B, 1-3B, 36 RBI

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

JONATHAN PAPELBON—Philadelphia Phillies (B.R.) 2-4, 3.38 ERA, 22 SV., 50 K's, 40 inn.

JUAN PIERRE—Philadelphia Phillies (Alexandria) .305, 23 SB, 6-2B, 4-3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI

ALEX PRESLEY—Pittsburgh Pirates (Neville) .230, 9-2B, 3-3B, 6 HR, 14 RBI

RYAN THERIOT—San Francisco Giants (Broadmoor, LSU) .281, 11 doubles, 1-3B, 20 RBI

RICKIE WEEKS--Milwaukee Brewers (Southern) .193, 17-2B, 2-3B, 9 HR, 33 RBI

VERNON WELLS—L.A. Angels of Anaheim (Shreveport) .244, 6-2B, 6 HR, 12 RBI (D.L.)

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

AAA

RYAN ADAMS—Norfolk (Jesuit) .206, 10 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI (D.L.)

JOEY BUTLER—Round Rock (UNO) .291, 23-2B, 13 HR, 48 RBI
**1st in walks in PCL

PRESTON CLAIBORNE—Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Tulane) 1-0, 9.00 ERA (7 games)

MATT CLARK--Tucson (LSU) .304, 23 doubles, 2-3B, 18 HR, 56 RBI.
**8th in HR's, 6th in total bases

BRAD EMAUS—Buffalo (Tulane) .238, 6 doubles, 4 HR, 16 RBI

CHARLIE FURBUSH - Tacoma (LSU) 1-0 0.00 ERA 1 hits 6 K's 4 inns.

JOHNNY GIAVOTELLA—Omaha (Jesuit, UNO) .325, 14-2B, 3-3B, 9 HR, 50 RBI
**5th in OBP in PCC

BRANDON GOMES—Durham (Tulane) 5-2, 2.65 ERA, 6 saves, 47 K's, 34 innings

MARK HAMILTON—Memphis (Tulane) .264, 12-2B, 14 HR, 47 RBI

WILL HARRIS—Colorado (Slidell, LSU) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 Ks, 5 games, 7 inn.

CHASE LAMBIN—New Orleans (ULL) .259, 5-2B, 2-3B, 4 HR, 12 RBI

D.J. LEMAHIEU—Colorado (LSU) .314 avg., 31 RBI's, 12 2B, 2 3B 61 games

FRED LEWIS—Buffalo (Southern) .289, 17-2B, 6-3B, 8 HR, 32 RBI, 18 SB

TODD LINDEN—Fresno (LSU) .289, 18-2B, 4-3B, 7 HR, 44 RBI

LUKE MONTZ—New Orleans (Acadiana) .240, 12-2B, 20 HR, 56 RBI
** 4th in PCL in HR

ANDY PETTITE—New York (Baton Rouge) 0-2, 3.71 ERA, 13 K's, 17 inn. (D.L.)

XAVIER PAUL—Louisville (Slidell, Rummel) .480, 2-2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI

GREG SMITH—Salt Lake (Alexandria, LSU) 4-7, 4.26 ERA, 13 games

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

RYAN VERDUGO—Omaha (LSU) 7-2, 3.45 ERA (94 inn, 73 hits 80 K's)

AA

JIMMY CESARIO—Tulsa (Jesuit) .217, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI in 33 games

MILES DURHAM—Altoona (Northwestern State) .295, 17-2B, 4-3B, 3 HR, 36 RBI

DANNY FARQUHAR—SWB (ULL) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 saves, 1 games, 1 K's, 2 inn.

BRAD HAWPE—Frisco (LSU) .260, 6-2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI (Released)

WILL HARRIS—Colorado (Slidell, LSU) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 8 K's, 7 inn.

LEE HAYDEL--Huntsville (Riverside, Delgado) .342, 3-2B, 2-3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI

BEAU JONES—Midland (Destrehan) 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 7 games

MICHAEL LIBERTO--Northwest Arkansas (Rummel, Delgado) .237, (9-for-30), 1 RBI

TOMMY MANZELLA—Huntsville (Hannan, Tulane) .256, 7-2B, 1 HR, 24 RBI

BLAKE MARTIN—New Britain (LSU) 3-4, .429 ERA, 30 games, 52 K's, 57.2 innings

JARED MITCHELL--CHA (Westgate/LSU) .250, 0-2B, 0-3B, 0 HR, 0 SB, 0 RBI (1 game)

SEAN OCHINKO—New Hampshire (LSU) .276, 8-2B, 1-3B 5 HR, 22 RBI in 39 games

ZACH OSBORNE—Frisco (ULL) 1-1, 13.20 ERA, 16 Games

JOSH PRINCE—Huntsville (Tulane) .268, 17-2B, 3-3B, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 36 SB (Leads Southern League)

EDGAR RAMIREZ—Binghamton (LSU) 1-1, 4.40 ERA, 22 games

ANTHONY RANAUDO—Portland (LSU) 1-3, 6.69 ERA, 9 starts (D.L.)

ROB SEGEDIN—Trenton (Tulane) .186 (11-for-59), HR, 3 RBI in 15 games

BEN SHEETS— Mississippi (St. Amant, ULM) 0-1, 5.06 ERA (10.2 inn., 12 hits, 10 K's)

CRAIG WESTCOTT—Richmond (Hannan, Delgado) 9-6, 3.61 ERA, 20 starts

JOSH ZEID—Corpus Christi (Tulane) 2-0, 6.00 ERA in 37 games, 45 inn., 53 K's

A

BEN ALSUP—Asheville (LSU) 11-4, 4.11 ERA, 18 starts
**Tied 1st in SALLY League in wins

GARIN CECCHINI—Greenville (Barbe) .299, 26-2B, 3-3B, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 33 SB.
**4th in Sally League in doubles

BRAD DELATTE—Vancouver (St. Amant, Nicholls St.) 0-0, 27.00 ERA, 1 Game

CLINT DEMPSTER—FTM (Thibodaux, Nicholls State) 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 2 Games

DALE DICKERSON—Carolina (West Ouachita, Nicholls State) 5-2, 4.38 ERA, 29 K's, 1 save

JOHNNY DISHON—Brevard County (LSU) .189, (10-for-53), 2 double, 1-3B 5 RBI in 17 games

ALEX FUSELIER—State College (Teurlings Catholic, ULL) .220 (13-for-59), 2 RBI 19 games

T.J. GEITH—Charlotte (ULL) 0-1, 2.59 ERA, 27 K's, 31.1 innings

MICAH GIBBS—Daytona (LSU) .195, 4-2B, 1-3B, 4 HR, 13 RBI

NICK GOODY—Charleston (LSU) 0-1, .82 ERA, in 7 games. 18 K's, 11 innings

DREW GRANIER—Burlington (Thibodaux, ULM) 10-6, 3.14 ERA
**Leads Midwest League in wins, tied 1st in games started, 3rd in innings pitched, 1st in K's

CODY HALL—Augusta (Central, Southern) 3-0, 1.31 ERA, 19 saves **Leads SAL in saves

FRAZIER HALL—Cedar Rapids (Christian Life, Southern) .257, 14-2B, 9 HR, 33 RBI

TYLER HANOVER—Connecticut (LSU) .340 (29-for-95), 6-2B, 1-HR, 8 RBI

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

JAMES JONES—Fort Wayne (ULM) 1-3, 3.49 ERA, 19 K's, 15 games

RO JONES—State College (St. John, UNO, Southern) .108, (13-for-37), 1-2B, 3 RBI

TYLER JONES—Beloit (LSU) 1-3, 5.06 ERA, 10 games, 52 K's in 42.2 innings

LEON LANDRY—Rancho Cucamonga (Baker/LSU) .317, 25-2B, 11-3B, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 17 SB.
**10th in Cal League in AVG, 3rd in 2B, 2nd in 3B

CHANDLER LAURENT—Asheville (Fontainebleau, Delgado) .188, 2-2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI

LUCAS LEBLANC--Salem (Central Lafourche, Delgado) .197, 3-2B, 2 RBI in 22 games

STEFAN LOPEZ—Staten Island (New Iberia, SLU) 0-0, 11.05 ERA, 7 games

MIKIE MAHTOOK—MTG (St. Thomas More, LSU) .00, 0 HR, 0-2B, 0 RBI, 1 SB (1 game)

DAYTON MARZE—Dunedin (Teurlings Catholic, ULL) 2-4, 3.18 ERA, 37 games

AARON MUNOZ—Lansing (Northwestern State) .289 (13-for-45), 4 doubles, 3 RBI

CHRIS MURRILL—Charlotte (Nicholls State) .324, 4 RBI (11-for-34), 10 games

AUSTIN NOLA—Greensboro (Catholic, LSU) .315 (23-for-73), 1 HR, 8 RBI in 19 games

LEE ORR—Fort Wayne (McNeese State) .204, 8-2B, 2-3B, 8 HR, 26 RBI

JACE PETERSON—Fort Wayne (Hamilton Christian, McNeese State) .285, 17-2B, 7-3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI

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

MATTY OTT—Greenville (Holy Cross, LSU) 4-3, 3.77 ERA, 4 saves, 28 games

TAYLOR ROGERS—San Jose (Tulane) 7-9, 4.45 ERA, 20 starts

AUSTIN ROSS--Brevard (Captain Shreve, LSU) 0-0, 1.54 ERA in 3 starts—D.L.

RYAN SCHIMPF--Dunedin (St. Paul, LSU) .267, 28-2B, 13 HR, 55 RBI
**Leads FSL in 2B, 4th in runs, 3rd HR, 7th RBI, 2nd Total Bases, 10th walks, 5th Slugging %, 7th OPS

JEB STEFAN—Williamsport (Acadiana, La. Tech) 0-1, 3.14 ERA, 12 games, 16 K's, 14.1 inn.

WES THIGPEN—LAK (Hahnville) .00 avg, 0 RBI 3 games

ZACK VON ROSENBERG—West Virginia (Zachary) 3-3, 4.03 ERA, 9 games

GREG WILBORN—Great Lakes (ULL) 1-1, 3.60 ERA, 1 games, 3 K's 5 inn.

ROOKIE LEAGUE

JUSTIN BOUDREAUX—Ogden (Dutchtown, SLU) .247, 5-2B, 1-3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI

WIL BROWNING—Bluefield (ULM) 0-1, 3.86 ERA, 3 games (2.1 inn.)

ZACH BUTLER—Princeton (McNeese State) 0-0, 2.51 ERA, 10 games, 14.1 inn., 19 K's

GAVIN CECCHINI—Kingsport (Barbe) .240, 6-2B, 1-3B, 8 RBI in 28 games

KOLBY COPELAND—Gulf Coast League Marlins (Parkway) .276, 5-2B, 4-3B, 15 RBI

JORDAN HARRISON—Gulf Coast Rays (ULL) 0-1, 0.66 ERA, 6 games, 17 K's in 13.2 inn.

BROCK HEBERT—Pulaski (South Terrebonne, SLU) .288, 5-2B, 1 HR, 16 RBI

HAYDEN JENNINGS—Gulf Coast Nationals (Evangel) .156 (12-for-77), 1-2B, 1-3B, 2 RBI

*MASON MELOTAKIS—BEL (N.W. St.) 1-1, 0.00 ERA, 2 games, 3 K's, 4.0 inn.
*(Promoted To Class A 7/18)

PEDRO PIZARRO—AZL Angels (Byrd) .194 (6-for-31) in 9 games

COLIN RODGERS—Burlington (Parkview Baptist) 3-0, 0.73 ERA, 6G, 24.2 inn., 9 hits

JEREMY SCHAFFER—Johnson City (Tulane) .276, 11-2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI in 30 games

STRYKER TRAHAN—AZL Diamondbacks (Acadiana) .284, 5-2B, 2-3B, 3 HR, 16 RBI

GREG WILBORN—MID GL (ULL) 1-0, 3.60 ERA, 1 games, 5 inn., 3 K's

ALEX WILLIAMS—Bristol (Menard, Louisiana Tech) .243, 8-2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI

CHRIS WOLFE—AZL Athletics (Grambling) .200, (2-for-10) in 5 games played

INDEPENDENT LEAGUES

BUBBA BELL—Sugar Land (Nicholls State) .301, 25-2B, 3-3B, 1 HR, 31 RBI

BLAKE BERGERON—Wichita (Terrebonne, Nicholls State) .267, (4-for-15), 1 HR, 2 RBI

DEREK BLACKSHER—Wichita (McNeese State) 5-2, 4.14 ERA, 13 games

BRENNAN FLICK—Florence (Central Catholic, LSU-Eunice) 6-0, 2.10 ERA, 28 games

GREG FONTENOT—Evansville (Acadiana, ULL) .276, 1-2B, 9 RBI in 34 games

TAYLOR FREEMAN—Wichita (McNeese State) .231, 7 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI

ROY MERRITT—Somerset (Southern) 5-2, 3.65 ERA, 16 games

D.J. PONDER—Evansville (Catholic, Tulane) 1-0, 9.00 ERA, 7 games

ANTHONY SCELFO—Laredo (Jesuit, Tulane) .275, 16-2B, 3-3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI

NICK SCHWANER—Evansville (Slidell, UNO) .252, 11-2B, 1-3B, 7 HR, 34 RBI

BARON SHORT—McAllen (Southern) 0-4, 8.84 ERA, 6 games

MICHAEL THOMAS—Rockford (Southern) .244, 5-2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI

TYLER WATKINS—Schaumburg (SLU) 3-4, 3.21 ERA, 56 innings, 50 hits

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Stats compiled by Patrick Sanderson.