Little League World Series 2010: 10 Little Stars Who Became MLB Stars

The Little League World Series heads into the semi-finals on Aug. 28, and four contenders remain: Hawaii, Texas, Chinese Taipei, and Japan.

As the series unfolds, you can't help be impressed at the passion these young children show for the game. 

If you are one of the lucky ones, you can play a game you've loved as a child and grow up to have a career in major league baseball.

Don't be fooled though, it's not that easy. There's not that many MLB players to have turned their LLWS appearances into a successful professional career.

Here are 10 of the best major leaguers to play in the Little League World Series...

10. Yusmeiro Petit

At 25 years old, Petit is still trying to find playing time as pitcher for the Seattle Mariners organization. 

But as a youngster, he was part of a Little League team that appeared in the 1994 LLWS.

In his career, Petit has a 10-20 record, 5.57 ERA and 176 Ks.

9. Dave Veres

After playing in the 1978 Little League World Series, Veres made his major league debut in 1994, as a pitcher for the Houston Astros.

His career in the MLB lasted nine seasons, with a record of 36-35, 3.44 ERA, 617 Ks and 95 saves.

8. Lastings Milledge

Milledge was a part of the Little League team from Manatee East that was a runner-up in the LLWS.

He pitched his Little League team to an important victory in the semi-final regionals.

Milledge would later become a first-round draft pick of the New York Mets in the 2003 amateur draft.

Over five seasons in the MLB, he has batted .268 with 32 HR, 166 RBI and 40 SB.

7. Wilson Alvarez

In his pitching career, Alvarez has a 102-92 record, with a 3.96 ERA and 1,330 SO over 1747.2 innings.

He was also part of the 1992 LLWS team from Venezuela.

He played in the big leagues for 14 seasons.

6. Sean Burroughs

Burroughs was the star player for the Long Beach, Calif., team that made back-to-back LLWS appearances between 1992-1993.

Sean helped his teams win two Little League World Series titles with his pitching and gained notice for his gregarious personality.

After being selected in the first round by the San Diego Padres, Burroughs has had a less than impressive major league career.

His lifetime stats include a .280 BA, 11 HR, and 134 RBI.

5. Derek Bell

Bell had a 10-year career in the major leagues which he batted .276, hit 134 HRs with 668 RBIs. 

He also won a World Series championship in 1992 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

He played on the same Little League squad as Gary Sheffield, as his team faced off against the International team from Taiwan in the 1981 LLWS.

4. Jason Marquis

As a 12-year-old, Marquis' most memorable Little League moment came when he pitched a no-hitter for a team that finished third in the LLWS.

In his professional career, Marquis' personal highlights include a World Series championship in 2006 with the St. Louis Cardinals and being selected to the 2009 All-Star team as a member of the Colorado Rockies.

3. Jason Bay

Bay was part of the Little League team from Shippensburg, Pa., in 1990 that lost to the San Hua Little League team from Taiwan.

After being selected NL Rookie of the Year in 2004, he has developed into an All-Star outfielder, being selected three-times in his career.

During the past offseason, Bay signed a lucrative four-year, $66 million contract, with the New York Mets.

2. Gary Sheffield

In his major league career, Sheffield hit .292, tallied 2,689 hits, and 509 HRs.  He also won a World Series title with the Florida Marlins in 1997.

Sheff grew up under the same roof as his uncle, former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. 

It was his early exposure to baseball from his uncle and grandfather that would develop his love for the game.

At 11 years old, young Gary was selected to the Belmont Heights Little League team, joining future MLB players Derek Bell and Ty Griffin on the roster.

That group would make it to the 1981 LLWS and eventually lose to Taiwan.

1. Jason Varitek

Varitek has the distinction of being one of only two players to appear in the Little League World Series, College World Series and the MLB World Series. 

Former major league left-handed pitcher Ed Vosberg was the other.

During his Little League World Series appearance, Varitek played shortstop, third base, and catcher.  His team, Altamonte Springs, fell to a team from Seoul, South Korea. 

He would eventually have more success as a professional, Varitek has played his entire career with the Boston Red Sox and has amassed two World Series titles, 3 All-Star Appearances, and a Gold Glove.