Upward Mobility

Two players from Cal State Fullerton’s 1995 national championship team--Mark Kotsay and Jeremy Giambi--have reached the major leagues, and Brian Loyd, the catcher on that team, hopes he will soon get his chance.

Loyd moved a step closer to his goal last month, when he was called up to Syracuse, the Toronto Blue Jays’ triple-A team.

At the time, Loyd was batting .321 in 47 games for double-A Knoxville, and had been selected to play in the Southern League All-Star game.

“I didn’t get to play in the all-star game because of the call-up, but I’m happy to have a chance to be in triple-A for the first time,” Loyd said.

Just how long Loyd will be there, however, is uncertain.

Loyd was part of a shuffle of catchers in the Toronto organization when the Blue Jays’ Darrin Fletcher went on the disabled list. Charlie Greene went from Syracuse to Toronto and Loyd moved up to Syracuse.

But Fletcher is back playing with the Blue Jays, and Greene has been designated for reassignment, which might mean Loyd will return to Knoxville.

“I was pleased with the way I was hitting at Tennessee, but eventually you have to show that you can hit the pitching on the triple-A level,” Loyd said.

Loyd, who played at El Dorado High, had a good first game with Syracuse, going two for three with a home run, and was behind the plate when Leo Estrella pitched a seven-inning perfect game as part of a doubleheader against Indianapolis.

Loyd hasn’t hit nearly as well since. He was hitless in his next 15 at-bats, and was three for 22 after 11 games. But he said he isn’t discouraged.

“Any time you move up to a new level, there’s a period of adjustment,” Loyd said. “Pitching is a lot different on the triple-A level. You see a lot of big league pitchers who have been up and down. But it was an adjustment for me when I went to double-A too. Being in triple-A is a good challenge for me.”

At Syracuse, Loyd has been the backup catcher behind Kevin Brown, who is batting a team-leading .350. That has limited Loyd’s time behind the plate.

Despite Loyd’s slow start at the plate, Syracuse Manager Mel Queen said he has been impressed with Loyd’s defense.

“He’s a good receiver,” Queen said. “[Toronto] knows that. He handles pitchers very well. But Brown is hitting so well, we’ve only been able to use Loyd a couple of days a week.”

However, Loyd said he’s learning--even when he’s not playing.

“When I’m sitting around in the bullpen, I try to learn things from the pitchers,” he said. “A lot of them have big-league time, and I try to gain from talking to them when I’m not in the game catching.”

Loyd thinks his defensive skills have improved each season.

“It seems like the game is more efficient the higher level you play,” Loyd said. “I’m working to be more consistent.”

Loyd, 26, said he isn’t concerned that several catchers still appear to be ahead of him.

“They also have some good young prospects behind me too, but that’s part of the challenge,” Loyd said. “And I think there are always teams looking for catching.

“I don’t care which team I get to the big leagues with, as long as I get there.”

GOOD START FOR CRESSE

Catcher Brad Cresse, who had the winning hit in Louisiana State’s victory in the College World Series championship game, has gotten off to a good start in his first professional season.

Cresse, who played at Marina and Los Alamitos high schools, had four home runs in his first 11games with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High Desert team in the Class-A California League. One of those homers cleared the 50-foot scoreboard in center field, about 400 feet from home plate.

Cresse led the nation with 30 home runs this past season at LSU.

LAIRD RETURNS

Catcher Gerald Laird, sidelined most of this season after breaking a bone in his wrist in his fifth game with Visalia in the California League, has resumed his career in a rehab assignment with the Oakland A’s team in the Arizona Rookie League.

Laird, who was selected by Oakland in the second round of the 1998 draft out of La Quinta High, had only two hits in 17 at-bats at Visalia before he was hit on the wrist with a foul tip.

“He will be in Arizona just long enough to ease back into it,” said Keith Lieppman, Oakland’s director of player development. “He’ll be back in Visalia after that. He’s a good young catcher.”

TOUCHING BASES

Former Cal State Fullerton pitcher Brandon Duckworth is one of 10 pitchers selected for the National League team in the double-A All-Star game Wednesday in Bowie, Md. Duckworth is 7-5 with a 3.53 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies’ team in Reading, Pa. Duckworth leads the Eastern League with 109 strikeouts.

First baseman Jake Epstein, who played his senior season for Cal State Fullerton after transferring from Missouri, has signed as a free agent with the Angels and been assigned to Butte, Mont., in the Pioneer League. Epstein batted .324 with nine homers and a team-leading 48 RBIs at Fullerton.