Parque’s on a roll

Thursday, May 28, 1998

Parque’s on a roll

MLB: Jim Parque made the transition to the big leagues, showing
UCLA players that the majors aren’t all that far away

By Kristina Wilcox

Daily Bruin Staff

The 1997 UCLA baseball team produced its first major
leaguer.

Lefthanded pitcher Jim Parque made his major-league debut on
Tuesday night as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

His opponent: the 1996 World Champion New York Yankees. A worthy
opponent for the former Bruin ace.

The 22-year-old lasted four-plus innings in his debut, allowing
two runs on five hits and five walks. He hit a batter, and struck
out one.

While Parque was working his deliberate, methodical magic in
Chicago, his former teammates and current Bruins surrounded the
television at Maloney’s, watching his performance.

"It was a pretty neat experience," senior Eric Byrnes said of
the evening. "I thought he pitched very well. He looked like a big
leaguer."

Junior Eric Valent agreed. "It was fun. I am happy for
Parque."

Amazingly, just one year ago, Parque was preparing for the
College World Series. Now he’s in the big leagues. How did he get
there so fast?

"I always thought that he would make it quickly because he’s a
lefthanded pitcher, and there’s a demand for those," Byrnes
said.

Valent addressed the concern about Parque’s stature. If Parque
had stayed with UCLA for his senior year, he would have been joined
by freshman Ryan Carter, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound power pitcher.
Carter has at least 9 inches and 75 pounds on Parque.

"Parque may be shorter, but he has long arms." Valent said. "He
has rock solid mechanics too.

"He works harder than any other pitcher that I’ve seen."

And now he is working hard to prepare to face players he watched
on SportsCenter.

"He pitched against Rock Raines!" Byrnes exclaimed. "My first
baseball card in 1984 was Raines. And he jams Chuck Knoblauch … I
remember watching him in the World Series in 1991!"

Even though Parque had control problems in walking five, fellow
UCLA pitcher Rob Henkel thinks things will get better: "I know as
he gets more experience, he’ll get his control back. The guy’s got
four great pitches and gets the job done."

Parque’s start put things in perspective for his two former
teammates.

"I thought he should have been a regular first-rounder, not a
sandwich pick last June," Valent said.

"No one expected him to go up so fast. But he’s in the right
organization for that. It makes you realize that if you stay
healthy, the majors aren’t that far away."

Byrnes, who was drafted in the fourth round last June, was
especially optimistic.

"His outing sends a positive message to all of us back in
school," Byrnes said. "It shows that baseball isn’t that different
in the majors. It’s the same game we’ve been playing all of our
lives."

As for UCLA camaraderie, Henkel hopes that Parque keeps plugging
away, "It’s an awesome thing when one of your own is up there. I
hope every five days we can watch him pitch and progress."

* * *

Another 1997 Bruin is moving up quickly in the pursuit of his
major league dreams.

Power-hitting infielder Troy Glaus was promoted to Triple-A on
Wednesday by the Anaheim Angels.

Some people expected him to make the bigs before Parque, but
Byrnes thought otherwise.

"It’s more of an adjustment for the hitters," Byrnes said. "I’ve
talked with Troy a few times during the season, and he is having a
lot of fun.

"Both he and Parque have stepped up really well to the next
level."

CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin

Jim Parque, former UCLA pitcher, pitched for the White Sox
against the Yankees on Wednesday Night.

UCLA Sports Information

Jim Parque is now a White Sox.