By WENDELL WOOD
Salt Lake Buzz pitcher Travis Baptist has been selected by the Pacific Coast League managers to be the starting pitcher for the eleventh annual Triple-A All Star game Wednesday in Norfolk, Va. Joining Baptist to play against the International League is fellow teammate and infielder Chad Rupp.
Baptist, 26, who is making his All-Star debut, is off to a great start for the Buzz this year with an 8-3 record and a 2.77 ERA, the second best record in the league.
“We’re happy for Travis to make it to the All-Star Game,” Buzz manager Phil Roof said. “It’s a nice compliment to make him the starter for the P.C.L.”
Baptist was acquired by the Minnesota Twins (the Buzz’s parent club) from the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1996 baseball draft. The Blue Jays originally selected Baptist in the 45th round of the June 1990 draft out of Hillsboro High School in Oregon.
Rupp, 26, is one of five infielders selected to the Pacific Coast League by league president Branch Rickey. Rupp, who is making his first appearance as an All-Star, is currently hitting .331 with 16 home runs and 67 RBI’s, third best in the Pacific Coast League.
Rupp improved his numbers with a strong outing against the Vancouver Canadians, Monday night. Rupp was hit in the elbow by a pitch his first time at the plate, but responded by going 2-2 with one home run and driving in three runs before leaving the game as the Buzz went on to defeat the Canadians 9-3.
“What can you say about Rupp,” Roof said after the game. “He’s an All-Star. The hit he took that hit him in the elbow put a charge in him. He went out and proved he could do it.”
Roof took Rupp out of the game after the fifth inning to ice down his elbow and give him some rest before the All-Star Game.
Rupp, the 44th overall pick in the 1993 draft out of the University of Miami, played the entire 1997 season for the Buzz where he set a team record with 32 home runs in the season.
Rupp was also invited to participate in the home run contest at the All-Star break.
The Buzz go into the All-Star break with an overall record of 39-41 after winning four out of their last five ball games.
“We’ve won four out of our last five games,” Roof said. “We have the potential of playing this kind of baseball all the time.”
After the break the Buzz will go on the road for their next seven games. Following their road trip the Buzz will be back in town July 17 for a nine-game home stand.
One more thing to note is that first baseman David Ortiz has been called back up to the Minnesota Twins organization. Replacing Ortiz is former Buzz player Scott Stahoviak, who hit 8-39 with the Twins including two home runs in two of his last four games for Minnesota.
