CONTRACT STATUS: Signed through the 2005 season.

CAREER NOTES: Hit a career-high .316 during his second season at Double-A Tennessee...his .316 average ranked fourth in the Southern League.

Led the Southern League and the Cardinals’ minor league system with 163 hits.

Played the majority of his games in the outfield, but did start six games at third base - his frist time at any position other than the OF while with the Cardinals organization.

Started the year with a 10-game hitting streak, batting .465 (20-43). Batted .349 (30-86) during April.

During July hit .370, a season high, with 19 RBI. The only month in which he did not bat over .300 was May (.214).

Was named a starter in the outfield for the East Division at the Southern League All-Star Game and was named to Baseball America’s postseason All-Star team.

BASEBALL PROSPECTUS PROFILE: Lest you get too excited about Schumaker's season, let's add some perspective. First, Tennessee is a pretty fair park for hitters. Second, at 24, he wasn't that young for the level, and he was repeating it. Third, his numbers were radically different from the rest of his career. Fourth, he showed little in the way of secondary skills. In other words, find something besides Skip Schumaker to get you excited.

MILEUR'S TAKE: Schumaker is doing everything asked of him. He will need to put together another good season, to continue to climb up through the Cardinals Minor League System. There will be opportunities over the next two seasons for someone from the minors to step up and play with the Cardinals as a 4th and 5th outfielder. The question is can Schumaker beat out players like John Gall, Reid Gorecki, Rick Ankiel, Dee Haynes and Cody Haerther to grab one of those spots on the bench.

MISC: Graduated in 1998 from Aliso Niguel High School (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) where he played both football and baseball...was named to all-conference, all-county and all-state teams in baseball...played American Legion ball for South Orange County (1995- 98)...attended UC-Santa Barbara where he was selected to the First-Team Big West in 2001...resides in Huntington Beach, Calif.