03/10/2004 9:24 AM - The Kansas City T-Bones shored up their outfield for 2004, inking former Southwest Missouri State standout Micah Holst on Monday. Holst, 27, was originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in 1999 and spent from 1999 to 2003 in the Giants’ system, advancing as high as the Pacific Coast League (AAA) with the Fresno Grizzlies.

While a Southwest Missouri State Bear, Holst dotted the record book with his name, setting career marks for consecutive games played, at-bats, and hit-by-pitch. Holst also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 1999, his senior year, in which he was named first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference.

Holst then moved on to the San Francisco Giants system, hitting .282 with 16 home runs and 145 runs batted in in 340 games over four seasons. His most productive season was 2002, in which he batted .295 with seven home runs and 49 runs batted in while stealing 15 bases in 21 attempts for the San Jose Giants of the California League (A). Holst has shown an amazing ability to use his body to get on base, getting nailed with 17 and 13 pitches respectively in the last two seasons.

A current resident of Independence, MO, with his wife Jamie, Holst coaches baseball at Excelsior Springs HS in his spare time, and holds a degree in business.

In other notes, the Kansas City T-Bones announce the retirement of second baseman Taber Maier. Maier held down the keystone sack for the T-Bones in 2003, hitting .286 with seven home runs and 49 runs batted in in 89 games. A graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with a degree in kinesiology, Maier played seven seasons in the minor leagues, posting a career average of .280. Maier, 29, plans to utilize his degree as an emergency medical technician while pursuing his modeling career.

“While we’re sorry to lose Taber Maier, Micah Holst will be a great addition,” said T-Bones Manager Al Gallagher. “Micah will probably be our starting left fielder in 2004. He has shown a terrific ability to hit for average and create havoc on the basepaths.”