University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Bruin Pros Defeat 1999 Squad 3-1
January 16, 1999
LOS ANGELES -Before 1997 College World Series and U.S. Olympic teammates and current major leaguers Troy Glaus (Anaheim Angels) and Jim Parque (Chicago White Sox) helped lead the pro squad to a 3-1 victory over the 1999 squad, it was another member of the '97 World Series team who stole the show. Eric Valent, a supplemental first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1998, won the annual home run title by two homeruns over runners- up Chris Pritchett and former UCLA teammate Eric Byrnes, another member of the '97 squad. Valent further solidified his position as the best homerun hitter in Bruin history by outslugging Glaus, the previous UCLA career home run king. Valent is tops on the career list with 69 homeruns in three years while Glaus is second with 62 over the same time span.
In a stark contrast from last-year's offensive blowout, the 1999 version of the annual "Bruin Professionals vs. Bruin Collegians" was decidedly lower scoring. Last season, the Bruin pros and Bruin amateurs settled for an 11-11 tie. Unfortunately for the Bruins that season it was a good indicator of how the pitching staff would fare in '98. The 1999 game ended in a 3-1 victory by the pros, but more importantly it provided some encouraging results for the success of the pitching corps in '99. Redshirt sophomore Paul Diaz got the starting nod for the Bruins, pitching quite well. Besides the monstrous 420-foot homerun by Glaus that gave the Pros a 2-0 lead, Diaz looked like he is capable of a starting job. In two innings of work, Diaz allowed just two hits and one earned run. Parque let everyone know the reasons behind his quick promotion to the Chicago White Sox starting rotation by pitching 2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, to earn the win. Freshman Kurt Birkins served as a ringer for the pros and did quite well against his teammates, allowing one hit in an inning's work. He got past the heart of the Bruin's lineup, providing good justification for a spot in the starting rotation.
Between games, members of the 1969 College World Series team were honored with 30th anniversary commemoratives.