CLEVELAND – Former Delta State University catcher Eli Whiteside, a standout all-American, all-Gulf South Conference and all-Region performer from 1999-2001, became the third Statesman to make his 2009 debut with a Major League club on Sunday, when the Houston native started at catcher for the San Francisco Giants. Sunday's call-up was the second in Whiteside's career, spanning stops with the Orioles, A's and Giants. 

Whiteside, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound catcher, started Sunday's 4-5 loss at Seattle behind the plate for San Francisco. In his first career start for the Giants, Whiteside went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single and a run scored. Prior to Sunday's call-up, Whiteside was batting .241 with six home runs and 24 RBIs for AAA-Fresno. 

Whiteside and the Giants begin a six-game home stand with Atlanta on Monday at AT&T Park in San Francisco. For more on Whiteside and the Giants, please log on to www.sfgiants.com.