By Kevin Winter SportsTicker Staff Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) -- New Britain Rock Cats outfielder Josh Rabes is finally gaining some attention.

Rabe reached base safely by either a hit or a walk in 67 consecutive games from April 22 to July 13 -- the longest streak in the minor leagues since Kevin Millar reached base safely in 72 in a row from 1997-1999.

The 23-year-old Rabe was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 2000 draft. Once he signed with the Twins organization in mid-June of that season, Rabe began his professional career with the Elizabethon Twins in the rookie level Appalachain League. He hit .221 with three homers and 11 RBI in 41 games.

The following season, the Illinois native posted a .282 average with six homers and 44 RBI in 119 games for the Quad City River Bandits in the low Class A Midwest League.

Rabe was moved up a level to the high Class A Florida State League at the start of the 2002 season where he flourished with the Fort Myers Miracle. In 85 games, the 6-2, 210-pound outfielder hit .340 with five homers, 44 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 20 attempts.

"He's definitely having a breakout year," said Jim Rantz, Minnesota's Director of Player Development.

"It's all of his hard work finally paying off," said Fort Myers manager Jose Marzan.

Rabe's on-base streak almost never made 53 games let alone 60-plus. After reaching base safely in 52 straight games, Rabe was given a day off by Marzan against Lakeland on June 25.

"I wasn't even aware of (the streak)," Marzan admitted.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Rabe was called on to pinch hit and he promptly delivered a single in what would be his only at-bat of the game.

"Had he not gotten that hit, the streak would have been over and then I would have heard about it," Marzan said. "I heard about it anyway!"

According to the Twins organization, Rabe is not blessed with the greatest abilities but he will give you everything that he has all the time.

"He plays the game the way it is supposed to be played," Marzan added. "He's a different breed."

Marzan used Rabe in virtually every position in the batting order with the exception of cleanup and sixth. To his credit, Rabe had a better than .300 batting average in every position except seventh, where he had just one hit in eight at-bats.

Rabe primarily batted leadoff, collecting 66 hits in 186 at-bats for a .355 average. With runners on base, Rabe hit .374 and with runners in scoring position, his average was .342.

On July 15, Rabe was finally promoted to New Britain in the Class AA Eastern League.

"It wasn't surprising at all," Marzan said about losing Rabe. "I was very happy to see that happen."

Rantz admitted that he would have like to have brought Rabe to the Eastern League sooner but said, "I wasn't going to bring him up until (the streak) was over!"

Rabe's promotion to the next level was also a numbers game. Rantz wanted to move Rabe to New Britain, but he needed a place to put him. He also wanted to move outfielder Lew Ford out of Class AA and up to the Pacific Coast League but there was not any room for him in Edmonton.

Once Michael Cuddyer was promoted from the Trappers to the Twins, the chain reaction began and Ford was promoted to Class AAA to take the place of Cuddyer while Rabe was moved up to the Rock Cats.

Since joining New Britain, Rabe has struggled, collecting just six hits in 36 at-bats. However the organization feels that with some time to get adjusted, Rabe will regain the form that made him one of the most talked about players in the Florida State League over the past three months. It remains to be seen whether or not people will pay attention.