Dodger fans who attended games at Camelback Ranch this past spring may not have seen his name, but they undoubtedly heard it over the PA system – Paul Hoenecke.

The Kewaskum, Wisconsin native, who will turn 25 on July 8, appeared in five games for the Dodgers as one of the many late-inning replacements wearing one of those 80s or 90s jerseys with no name on the back and proceeded to go 3 for 5 (.600) with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored in his limited time on the big stage.

Hoenecke was selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2012 MLB First Year Player Draft out of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. After spending three seasons splitting time with the Arizona Rookie League Dodgers, the Ogden Raptors and the Great Lakes Loons in his first three professional seasons, he began the 2015 season with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga, where he got off to a fast start. In fact, Hoenecke was even promoted to Double-A Tulsa for six games before returning to the Quakes. And while Hoenecke may not be leading the team in any of the major offensive categories, he is near the top in all of them.

But what has caught the attention of Quakes (and Dodger) fans is that heading into Wednesday night’s game against the High Desert Mavericks (Rangers), Hoenecke had a 16-game hitting streak going – the longest active streak in the California League and the longest by a Quakes player this season. During the streak, Hoenecke was 25 for 61 (.410) with a home run, 12 RBIs and eight runs scored. He was so hot, in fact, that Quakes manager Bill Haselman temporarily moved 19-year-old Dodgers top first base prospect Cody Bellinger to center field on Wednesday night just to keep Hoenecke’s hot bat in the lineup – with Cal League All-Star Game MVP Brandon Trinkwon at third base, having been displaced from his normal spot at second base when Brandon Dixon was brought back down from Double-A Tulsa.

Unfortunately, Hoenecke’s streak ended on Wednesday night when he went o for 4 with two strikeouts in the Quakes tough 3-2 loss to the Mavs. On the season, Hoenecke is hitting .294 with six home runs, one triple and 16 doubles. He has driven in 37 runs while scoring 25 and has an impressive .807 OPS.

The closest that Quakes slugger Paul Hoenecke came to entending his hitting streak was a high pop-up to third. Hoenecke just got under the pitch. Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Hoenecke must now do what every professional baseball player does when their hitting streak ends…

Start a new one.