Justin Huber #26

Justin Patrick Huber (pronounced HUE-ber)...2000 graduate of Beacon Hill College (Victoria, Australia)...represented Team Australia at the Under-18 Junior World Championships from 1998-2000.

2010

Spent entire season with the Hiroshima Carp of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan...Hit five home runs in a 27-game span, April 6-June 27...homered in consecutive games, June 13 and 19...Had season-high four hits, July 7 at Yomiuri Giants...Played 47 games (46 starts) at first base and one game in left field for the Carp...Played winter-ball for Melbourne in the Australian Baseball League, batting .202 (23-for-114) with six home runs and 19 rbi in 29 games.

2009

Represented Australia in the World Baseball Classic, going 1-for-11 in three games...began season with Triple-A Rochester...hit a home run in each of his first two games, April 25 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and May 1 at Indianapolis...had two-homer game, June 25 vs. Columbus...hit seven home runs in June...homered in back-to-back games, June 27-28 vs. Scranton Wilkes-Barre and July 20 and 22 vs. Pawtucket...had four-hit game, July 26 at Charlotte...had second two-homer game, August 30 vs. Buffalo...tied for fifth in the International League with 22 home runs... batted .364 (8-for-22) in eight September games...contract selected by Minnesota, September 6...played his first game with the Twins, going 1-for-2, September 11 vs. Oakland...released from the club, November 13 and signed with Hiroshima in the Nippon Professional Baseball League (Japan).

2008

Began Spring Training with the Kansas City Royals...was outrighted then traded to San Diego, making their Opening Day roster...hit his first home run, April 20 at Arizona...batted .246 (15-for-61) in 33 games with the Padres...outrighted to Triple-A Portland, June 21...went 5-for-5 in his final game, September 1 at Tacoma...hit .317 (19-for-60) vs. lefties and .216 (30-for-139) vs. righties.

2007

Began the season with Omaha (AAA) and struggled with injuries...ended up hitting .276 (79-for-286) with 18 home runs and 68 RBI in just 77 games for the O-Royals...also made a rehab appearance with the Royals Arizona League rookie squad, hitting .360 (9-for-25) in 7 games...Was recalled from Omaha on Sept. 4 and hit .100 (1-for-10) in 8 games for the Royals...made three starts...made his first career appearance in the outfield on Sept. 17 vs. Chicago...later started in left field on Sept. 30 vs. Cleveland.

2006

Recalled from Omaha on May 3 after hitting .301 (22-73) with 13 runs and 7 home runs for the O-Royals including hitting .328 (19-58) in his last 16 games before the call up...Optioned back to Omaha on May 19 after playing in 5 games at the Major League level...collected 2 hits in 10 at bats including a double...made 3 starts as designated hitter for the Royals during that time...Hit .278 (98-352) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs and 44 RBI in 100 games for Omaha...Named the 8th-best prospect in the Royals organization entering the 2007 season by Baseball America.

2005

Saw his 1st action at the Major League level, hitting .218 in 25 games for KC, going 17-for-78 with 3 doubles and 6 RBI...Began the season at Wichita (AA)...was hitting .332 (86-259) at the time of his promotion, 2nd in the Texas League...also ranked among the league leaders in hits (2nd), OBP (3rd, .420), RBI (t3rd, 50), runs (5th, 50), doubles (t5th, 17), SLG (7th, .517) and homers (t8th, 9)...Won the Texas League batting title with a .343 average (115-335), while pacing the league with a .432 on-base percentage and .570 slugging percentage...Was named a Texas League All-Star, but did not participate in the game...Selected to Baseball America's Minor League All-Star Team, which tabbed him as the best 1st baseman in the entire minor leagues...was joined on the team by KC prospect Billy Butler (DH)...also named to minorleaguebaseball.com's Double-A All-Star Team...Recalled from Wichita on June 20...made his Major League debut as pinch hitter on June 21 at Chicago...became the 21st Australian to make the big leagues...Went 0-for-3 in his 1st Major League start (the DH) June 22 at Chicago (AL)...Notched his 1st Major League hit and RBI with a pinch-hit run-scoring double off Byung-Hyun Kim at Colorado on June 24...Optioned to Wichita on July 1...hit .250 (3-12) with 3 RBI in 5 games for KC...Was named Topps Player of the Month for July in the Texas League after hitting .377 (29-77) with 18 runs, 5 doubles, 7 homers and 24 RBI in just 21 games...Was named MVP of the XM Satellite Futures Game on July 10 in Detroit's Comerica Park...went 1-for-2 with a 2-out, 2-run double in the World team's 4-0 victory over the U.S. team managed by former Royal George Brett...Promoted to Omaha (AAA) on July 29...hit .274 (31-113) in 32 games for Omaha with 7 homers and 23 RBI...recalled from Omaha on Sept. 1...hit .212 (14-for-66) with 5 walks and 17 strikeouts after his recall...Recorded his 1st 3-hit game at Detroit on Sept. 9, going 3-for-5 with 3 runs, a double and an RBI...Put together a career-best 5-game hitting streak from Sept. 18-24, going 5-for-17 (.294)...went just 1-for-13 (.077) the remainder of the season...Tabbed by Baseball America as the 3rd-best prospect in the Royals system entering the 2006 season.

2004

Was obtained by the Kansas City Royals in exchange for IF Jose Bautista on July 30, 2004...Underwent surgery on Aug. 23, 2004 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee... did not appear for the Royals organization after the trade...Was named to the Australian Olympic team but was forced to miss the 2004 Olympic Games due to his knee injury...Selected to play in the 2003 Florida State League's All-Star Game...Was the 1st unanimous selection to the mid-season 2002 South Atlantic League All-Star team since Mike Hargrove in 1973...was also selected to the league's postseason All-Star team...Represented Team Australia at the under-18 Junior World Championships from 1998-2000...Signed with the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent on July 26, 2000... signed by Omar Minaya.