#8  Rene Escobar   Position: Infield Year: Senior Ht./Wt.: 6-0 / 195 Hometown: Nuevo, CA B/T: R/R Previous School: Louisiana State

COLLEGE: Appeared in seven games (six starts) as a right fielder and DH for Louisiana State last year. Drove in two runs, walked twice and scored twice in a win over Michigan State. Drafted in the 30th round by Atlanta in 2007, was a highly-touted JC player during his career at Riverside (Calif.) Community College. Earned 2007 JC All-America honors and was named the 2007 Orange Empire Conference Player of the Year. He batted .368 (86-for-234) with 19 double, six triples, six homers, 76 RBI and 64 runs for Riverside’s 2007 California state JC championship team. Was the recipient of the 2007 Big Stick Award for the Southern California region.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year team MVP at shortstop for Perris High School in Nuevo, Calif. Also earned first-team all-league honors all four years.

PERSONAL: Born Nov. 22, 1986. Parents are Rene Jr. and Madeline Escobar. Has two younger siblings, Nicole and Charles. His father, Rene Jr., played baseball in the Mexican Leagues. Is pursuing a degree in Sociology at LCSC.