Before Paul Goldschmidt became one of the best hitters in professional baseball, he helped The Woodlands High School secure a state title.

Goldschmidt is now a three-time Major League Baseball All-Star, but in 2006 he was a part of a team that some consider the best in Texas high school baseball history, head coach Ron Eastman said.

The 2006 Highlanders benefited from a trio of senior stars, including Kyle Drabek, Steven Maxwell and Goldschmidt, and racked up a 38-1 record and the state title.

The same qualities that helped Goldschmidt become a standout while attending  TWHS fuel his success with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Eastman said.

“He stayed after practice and hit,” Eastman said. “He was up at the field on the weekends with his father. I would be mowing the fields and see him and his dad throwing to him. He has an incredible drive and work ethic. When you combine that with the talent, you’ve got a special ballplayer.”

Goldschmidt has a .298 career professional batting average, two Gold Glove awards at first base and finished second in MVP voting twice during his time in the majors. He has also hit more than 30 home runs in two seasons and is on pace for another in 2016, according to baseball-reference.com.

Spending his adolescence in the Greater Houston area helped him become a strong player, Goldschmidt said.

“Growing up in Houston, there’s so much big competition here playing against all the great players in every age group,” he said. “And I’m still doing it against some of the guys [from Houston who] are in the big leagues.”

The diversity of talent creates good ballplayers, Goldschmidt said.

After graduating from TWHS, Goldschmidt attended Texas State University. He was selected in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He ascended from the minor leagues to the majors in 2011.

“For me it’s cool to see family and friends, but once we’re to the park it’s pretty much the same as everywhere else: just trying to go out there and do my job and play while my friends and family enjoy it,” Goldschmidt said.

As good a player as Goldschmidt is, he is an even  better person, Eastman said.

“I talked to high school coaches in Arizona who say he could run for the governor of Arizona and win,” Eastman said. “I’m serious. He represents The Woodlands as well as anyone we can find. He’s humble. He’s got a great heart, [and a] great sense of humility, and that sets him apart.”