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A smooth transition for former USF star

Jeff Baisley ranks in the top three in eight offensive categories for Vancouver, his Class A short-season team.

By MIKE TOMPKINS
Published August 11, 2005

For most people, the opportunity to play sports past the amateur level is cherished.

For those who rely on work ethic, and not raw talent, the opportunity is just that - an opportunity.

And for most, each day in the minors is a day free of the nuances of everyday life, i.e. a real job.

But most people aren't Jeff Baisley.

Fresh off of one of the most prolific careers in University of South Florida history, in which he became the third Bull with 300 career hits, Baisley was selected in the 12th round (371st overall) of this year's draft by the Oakland Athletics.

Baisley also was the fourth Bull with at least 200 career RBIs (209) and finished with a .342 average.

After a life in the Florida sunshine (he was almost born at a Bucs game), Baisley is getting his professional feet wet playing for Oakland's Class A short-season affiliate, the Vancouver Canadians.

To Baisley, the adjustment from collegiate to professional ball was not a bad one.

"When I first got here, it was like 65 (degrees) and rainy," the 2001 Land O'Lakes graduate said. "Now, it's nice. It's like 75-80 every day. The coaching staff is laid-back, and they let us play. Plus, there's no class to go to. I get up, we work out and we play a game. That's the best part about minor-league ball. That's the fun part. It's not hard to get used to playing every day."

Baisley is playing, and playing well.

Through Wednesday, he was in the top three on the team in eight offensive categories. With 28 RBIs, Baisley is the front-runner by nine, and he is tied for the team lead in home runs with four. His at-bats (134), total bases (53) and doubles (10) were good for second. The third baseman was tied for second in walks (14), and his hit total (31) and slugging percentage (.396) were third. The only statistic not on par with Baisley's USF career was his average. In 37 games, Baisley was hitting at a .231 clip.

"In college there were maybe only one or two guys that threw 90 (mph)," said Baisley, whose 26 doubles last year set a USF record and led Conference USA. "Here, on every club, the majority of the starters throw in that range, along with a few guys in the bullpen. It takes a while to get used to the wooden bats, along with the better pitching."

Though those factors require some adjustment, the lifestyle is something with which he's familiar. Baisley's family is the baseball family in the Land O'Lakes area. He watched his older brother Brad, who's currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, experience the highs and lows of pro baseball. His twin brother, Brian (his .349 average last year was second to Jeff's .356), is a redshirt senior at USF. His dad, Calvin, has been baseball coach at Land O'Lakes since 1985, when he took the reigns from Gators football coach John Benedetto.

"If anything, that's one benefit I believe I have," Baisley said. "I always had someone to play catch with. I always was taught how to play the game, and how to play it right. It helped a lot, and because of that, it drives me. I'm not coming up here to play for two years, just to say I played minor-league ball. The ultimate goal is the big leagues. I want to succeed."

[Last modified August 11, 2005, 00:43:15]