Hunter Pence arrived in the Houston organization as a second-round pick in 2004 out of the University of Texas at Arlington, a player whose unorthodox, high-energy style of play immediately stood out. He debuted in 2007 and wasted no time making an impact, finishing third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting despite playing only 108 games.
Between 2008 and 2010, he reached a level of consistency that few in the league could match, recording three consecutive seasons with at least 25 home runs and 160 hits. He showed the organization he was a foundational superstar by earning his first All-Star selection in 2009, a year in which he hit .282 and drove in 92 runs. His value was enhanced by his durability, as he played in at least 156 games in each of his three full seasons as the starting right fielder.
The 2011 campaign represented the peak of Pence’s efficiency and individual recognition in Houston. Before the trade deadline, he was batting a career-high .308 and had already earned his second All-Star nod, but he was traded in July that year to the Philadelphia Phillies for four players.
Pence compiled 777 hits, 103 home runs, and two All-Star selections.
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