In his seventh season as a pro in 1995, Louisville Redbird Howard Prager struggled to get playing time, The Louisville Courier-Journal wrote.
But when he did get in, he showed what he could do, including in a June game where he hit a home run, a double and stole a base, The Courier-Journal wrote.
"We keep bringing in people to play first base in front of him, but he can play at this level," Louisville manager Joe Pettini told The Courier-Journal of Prager. "Not only did he swing the bat tonight, he made some good plays at first base."
However well he did that night, Prager's time in the pros ended with that year. He missed the bigs.
Prager's career began in 1989, taken by the Astros in the 31st round of the draft out of the University of Texas at Arlington.
Prager started with the Astros at short-season Auburn. He saw 73 games and hit .335. He moved to high-A Osceola for 1990. He hit .248 in 99 games.
For 1991, Prager spent much of the season at AA Jackson. He saw 109 games there and hit .305. He had a shot to add to a ninth-inning rally that August, but he hit one back to the mound, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger wrote.
"In that situation, I knew he'd go right at me," Prager told The Clarion-Ledger of the 3-1 count. "He's throwing his best stuff. I'm a fastball hitter and he challenged me. He won this time."
Prager played 1992 back at Jackson, then moved to the Cardinals system and AA Arkansas and AAA Louisville for 1993. He then returned to Louisville for 1994 and 1995 to end his career.
Prager soon returned home to Texas and became a youth coach, his son Ryan Prager going on to play in college.
- Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Aug. 12, 1991: Captains sink Generals, 8-7
- Louisville Courier-Journal, June 30, 1995: Prager emerges to lift Birds, 4-2
Made the Majors:1,394-32.3%
Never Made Majors:2,916-67.7%-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:349
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