Goldschmidt happy to return to Texas

ARLINGTON -- For the first time this season, Paul Goldschmidt returned to the state of Texas, where he played high school and college baseball.

Goldschmidt's wife Amy is from the Metroplex area. She was joined by a few members of her family, along with a couple of Goldschmidt's brothers at Wednesday night's game against the Rangers.

"It's cool. You get to see family, but once you get on the field, you kind of forget you're back here," Goldschmidt said. "Just a day and a half. Night game, then a day game and we're out. It's not like you're here for a week and you're hanging out then play baseball. We're here to play then we leave."

Goldschmidt won a state championship at The Woodlands, a high school near Houston, and left Texas State as the career record holder for home runs (36) and RBIs (178). After the D-backs swept a doubleheader Monday against the Rangers at home, they traveled to Texas for two more games this week.

"I loved [Texas State]," Goldschmidt said. "I loved playing baseball there. I loved the town [San Marcos] and I loved the school. I had fun there, met my wife there, have close friends I still stay in touch with."

Blue Jays right-hander Kyle Drabek and Brett Eibner, who is currently with the Royals' Double-A team at Northwest Arkansas, were among the other players on The Woodlands squad that won a state title in 2006.