Thursday, February 12, 1998
Byrnes opts to return to UCLA despite major league draft
pick
BYRNES: From being freshman walk-on to outstanding player,
Byrnes strives to learn, improve
By Kristina Wilcox
Daily Bruin Staff
Eric Byrnes has come a long way since joining the UCLA baseball
team as virtually a walk-on his freshman year.
From being a "football player who also played baseball," Byrnes,
over the past three seasons, has transferred that football-tough
mentality to the baseball diamond, where he has emerged as a
potential first-round draft pick in 1998.
"I’m definitely a different player," Byrnes said. "I came in
here young and ignorant, but over the years I have learned."
He did not show much of that ignorance on the field in his first
year. Byrnes led the team in batting average, hits, stolen bases
and plate appearances. He made the first-team Freshman All-America
for both Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America after putting up
those outstanding numbers. Granted, the squad was only one game
over .500, but that is still impressive for someone who was a
surprise opening-day starter in right field.
"Byrnes is a very good athlete that we didn’t think could play
for us that first year," hitting coach Vince Beringhele said. "He
was not a good baseball player, but he made believers out of us
that year.
"He opened in the starting lineup and never gave the spot
up."
Byrnes continued his offensive feats during his sophomore and
junior seasons while maintaining a strong work ethic that earned
him praise from Beringhele.
"He is a tremendous player with an incredible work ethic,"
Beringhele said. "He plays the game hard. He will run through a
wall for you."
Professional scouts for the Houston Astros took note of his
hustling play by drafting him in the fourth round of the 1997 June
draft. The only Bruin teammates drafted before him were the
Olympians Troy Glaus and Jim Parque.
Despite the relatively high draft selection, Byrnes opted to
return to UCLA for his senior year. He said that the contract that
the Astros offered was not quite worth giving up college life just
yet.
"I am having so much fun here," Byrnes said. "It’s like one big,
fun, long vacation. And there’s an advantage to being here for four
years. Instead of those who are so eager to jump out of college and
into pro ball, I have the chance to physically grow and to mentally
mature before making that choice."
That vacation could have ended abruptly during his sophomore
season if it wasn’t for Byrnes’ determination and left hook.
Byrnes, a self-proclaimed country boy who grew up in a small,
Northern California town, has learned how to live in a metropolitan
area the hard way.
He tells a story of waking up at 5 a.m. in his apartment to the
sound of someone at his desk, rustling for Byrnes’ wallet. Byrnes
just sat there, curled up in a ball, before jumping up and
"clocking" the perpetrator.
"The man’s lying on the ground, and there’s blood everywhere,"
Byrnes recalled.
Byrnes called the police and had the man arrested.
The next day, UCLA played USC and Byrnes had a good game. He
eventually had to go to court to testify against the burglar, who
went to jail for about 1 1/2 months.
It turns out the man had gotten into the apartment through the
front door.
"My roommate and I are from a small town where we never lock our
doors," Byrnes explained. "This was a real shock in a way …
‘Welcome to L.A.!’ But I definitely got the best of the guy."
Byrnes can also say that he’s gotten the best of college
baseball and life so far.