University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Former Bruin Makes the Big Show
May 26, 1998
Former UCLA standout lefthander Jim Parque will make his major league debut on Tuesday night for the Chicago White Sox. Parque will become the 45th former Bruin to play in the major leagues and the 31st under current head coach Gary Adams. Parque will become the 11th Bruin to play in the majors this season.
Parque posted a 13-2 record in 1997 and helped lead UCLA to its first College World Series appearance since 1969. He pitched in his final collegiate game on May 31, 1997 against the University of Miami (Florida), so he will be making his major league debut less than one year after completing his collegiate career.
The winningest lefthander in school history (25 wins) had won 10 games in the minors over the past year before receiving his promotion. Parque struck out 319 batters in his three-year (1995-'97) collegiate career, the second highest total in school history. He was a supplemental first round pick of the White Sox in 1997. He was 7-2 for Winston-Salem (A) and 1-0 for Nashville (AAA) in 1997 before going 2-3 for Calgary (AAA) this season.
The other members of UCLA's starting rotation in 1997 have also pitched extremely well in the minors. Tom Jacquez, a sixth round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1997, is 5-2 with a 3.28 ERA for Clearwater (A). Peter Zamora, a 20th round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1997, is 2-0 with six saves and a 1.20 ERA for San Bernardino. Zamora has allowed just 15 hits in 45 innings.