Byline: Michael Hines For The Register-Guard

While Jacoby Ellsbury broke into the major leagues in the most spectacular fashion, he's not the only former Oregon State star in the bigs.

Right-handed pitcher Eddie Kunz was called up by the New York Mets earlier this month. Jamie

Burke is a veteran reserve catcher for the Seattle Mariners. Brian Barden, a shortstop now competing with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, got a taste of the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals in 2007. And Mark McLemore has seen action with the Houston Astros.

In fact, no fewer than 27 former Beavers are playing at some level of professional baseball. An update on a handful of other recent OSU players:

Andrew Baldwin: (drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, fifth round, 2004). Traded to Seattle in 2006, the righty has a 9-5 record with the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers.

Darwin Barney: (Chicago Cubs, fourth round, 2007). After a season with the Peoria (Ill.) Chiefs, a Class A short-season team coached by Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, the shortstop is batting .247 for the Class A Daytona (Fla.) Cubs.

Dallas Buck: (Arizona Diamondbacks, third round, 2006). The pitcher was part of a package of Arizona prospects sent to the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 11 in exchange for slugger Adam Dunn. The right-hander, who underwent Tommy John surgery last August and only started pitching again in June, was assigned to the Class A Sarasota (Fla.) Reds.

Mitch Canham: (San Diego Padres, first round, 2007). The catcher was batting .285 through Saturday for the Class A Lake Elsinore (Calif.) Storm. Off the field, Canham is mourning the death of his younger brother in March. Dustin Canham died while serving the U.S. Marines in the African nation of Djibouti.

Cole Gillespie: (Milwaukee Brewers, third round, 2006). The 2006 Pac-10 player of the year is batting .281 for the Class AA Huntsville (Ala.) Stars. The left fielder has 54 extra-base hits in 121 games this season.

Kevin Gunderson: (Atlanta Braves, fifth round, 2006). Recently called up to the Class AA Mississippi Braves, the lefty has a 4.89 ERA and 13 saves this year. He has given up only one home run in 56 innings pitched.

Jonah Nickerson: (Detroit Tigers, seventh round, 2006). The MVP of the 2006 College World Series carries an 11-3 record and a 3.66 ERA for the Class A Lakeland (Fla.) Flying Tigers. The right-hander has 106 strikeouts in 1351?3 innings pitched.

Mike Stutes: (Philadelphia Phillies, 11th round, 2008). The right-hander is 4-1 with the Class A Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws after being promoted from Williamsport of the New York-Penn League. He's carrying a 1.07 ERA over 59 innings as a pro pitcher.

- Michael Hines