Former University of Evansville baseball player Cody Strait has been named to the Class AA Texas League All-Star Game after a strong first half of play for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Kansas City Royals’ organization.

Strait, who earned Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year honors in 2004 at UE, was named to the all-star team as a reserve outfielder after shining in centerfield for the Naturals.  Strait currently ranks fourth on the team in both batting average (.297) and home runs (four), while also ranking second in both doubles (14) and stolen bases (eight).  Overall, he ranks in the Texas League’s top 15 in both doubles and stolen bases, while also ranking 23rd in the league in hitting.  He has helped the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to a 33-20 record through the first half of play, as they currently sit just two games back of division-leading Springfield (Mo.) in the Texas League’s North Division.

For Strait, this is his first all-star game experience at the Minor League level.  His professional career began in 2004 in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization, after the Reds drafted Strait in the 12th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Evansville.  At UE, Strait earned MVC Newcomer of the Year honors and second team American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Midwest Region honors after hitting .350 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI in his lone season as a Purple Ace in 2004.

Strait will join Northwest Arkansas teammates Jordan Parraz (OF), Corey Smith (3B) and Kurt Mertins (2B) on the Texas League’s North Division squad in the Texas League All-Star game, which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 in Frisco, Texas.