Baseball's injury tally loaded

Published: Thursday, February 29, 1996

Bruins hold on to No. 5 rank despite missing four players

By Yoni Tamler

Daily Bruin Staff

Last year, six incoming Bruins - Jim Parque, Brett Nista, Troy Glaus, Pete Zamora and Tom Jaquez - all emerged as impact players for the UCLA baseball team. Obviously, head coach Gary Adams and company would have been hard pressed to find a freshman class comparable to that of 1998 during the most recent recruiting period.

But this year's crop of rookies are no slouches. While freshman center fielder Eric Valent has added a solid bat and glove to the Bruins' lineup, his classmate, pitcher Dan Keller, happens to own the club's lowest ERA (1.83) and second-best record (2-0).

"I came in here with the intention of playing and that's what I worked for," said Keller, who is one of only two true freshmen on the team. "I expected to play because we have such a young team, and I'm happy with the role as long as I get a chance to contribute."

Keller actually played shortstop in high school (Fountain Valley) until his senior season, when he first took the mound. The rest, as they say, is history.

"I was ready for the jump," said the right-hander, referring to his acculturation in the NCAA. "I just realized the type of pitcher I am and worked with my strengths. I realized I can play with these guys."

So far this season, Keller has been used in relief situations, where opponents have batted .183 against him in 19 and two-thirds innings of work.

"I'm getting innings wherever I can - middle relief, late relief," Keller said. "I'd really like to start, but at this point, it doesn't matter as long as I get to play."

* * *

While they can lay claim to Baseball America's No. 5 ranking, there is little the Bruins (11-5, 2-1 Six-Pac) can do about their disabled list, which seems to be growing by the day.

Four different players have joined the ranks of the injured: Glaus, Jacquez, Jon Phillips and Rob Schult. While Glaus (stiff back) is listed as day-to-day, the Bruins will have to wait considerably longer for the return of the other three.

Jacquez was rendered inactive when his appendix burst last week, prompting emergency surgery. So lengthy is Jacquez' expected recovery (four-to-six weeks) that the sophomore reliever may terminate his season (1-1, 4.50 in eight innings pitched) and instead redshirt this year.

Schult, a redshirt freshman who plays third base, suffered ligament damage last week while sliding in practice. His absence is indefinite.

The only member of the Bruins yet to see action this season is junior Jon Phillips. Last June, Phillips had a bone spur removed, his second such procedure in two years. Then, last fall, Phillips felt pain in his throwing elbow.

"After my arm started hurting, one doctor told me my ligament was torn, and another said it was more of a nerve problem," Phillips said.

Phillips is currently in the third week of a six-week rehabilitation program, after which he will begin to throw again and ascertain the condition of his elbow. If the diagnosis is at all negative, Phillips will be looking at surgery and an additional six weeks of inaction, at the very least. In the event of that happening, Phillips stated that he too would redshirt the year and return for the Bruins next fall.

Daily Bruin File Photo

Junior Jon Phillips is in the middle of his rehabilitation for arm problems that have kept him out of action all year.

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