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As teams hit the midway point of the professional baseball season five former Eastern Illinois baseball players are active in minor league baseball with pitcher Will Klein recently named to the MLB Futures Game Roster as the lone representative for the Kansas City Royals.
 
Klein currently pitches for the Royals Triple-A affiliate the Omaha Storm Chasers.  He began the season in Double-A with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.   During his stint with two different teams this season he has appeared in 26 games with an 0-2 record and 3.22 ERA.  Klein has one save and three relief holds.  In 36.1 innings of relief he has 57 strike outs.
 
Jimmy Govern was a teammate of Klein's in the minor leagues to open the season as the infielder is currently with the Royals Double-A team in Northwest Arkansas.  Govern is currently hitting .227 with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI.
 
Trey Sweeney is playing this season with the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Somerset Patriots.  Sweeney is currently hitting .244 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, 36 RBI and ten stolen bases.
 
Jake Haberer is the Panthers most veteran player still active in the minors leagues as he is pitching for the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.  Haberer has pitched in 18 games making four starts.  He has an 0-1 record and 3.86 ERA.  In 28 innings of work on the mound, Haberer has 26 strike outs.
 
Hayden Birdsong is the newest Panther in professional baseball having been selected in last year's summer draft.  Birdsong has pitched at different levels this summer opening the year in Class-A with the San Jose Giants before being promoted to the San Francisco Giants High-A affiliate, the Eugene Emeralds.  Birdsong has appeared in 15 games this year with 13 starts.  He has a 3.19 ERA with an 0-2 record.   In 52.2 innings of work, Birdsong has struck out 81 batters.