University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Well Represented in MLB Playoffs
October 05, 2007 | Baseball
The Tennessee baseball program is well represented in the 2007 MLB Playoffs, as three former Volunteers are currently suiting up this postseason. Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton (1993-95) headlines that trio, as the Knoxville, Tenn., native and five-time All-Star is making his first career postseason appearance.
Helton, in his 10th Major League season, drove in 91 runs and collected 178 hits during the regular season. He is the only player in MLB history to record at least 35 doubles in each of his first 10 seasons, as he logged 42 two-baggers this year. The Rockies currently hold a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in their National League Divisional Series.
Former Vol Alan Cockrell (1983-84) is also enjoying Colorado???s postseason run as the Rockies hitting coach. During the regular season, Colorado ranked fifth in among all 30 teams with a .280 team batting average. The Rockies under Cockrell???s tutelage also ranked fourth in hits (1,591) and seventh in slugging (.437).
Interestingly, not only do Helton and Cockrell share UT baseball ties, but both also quarterbacked the Vols football team during their days on Rocky Top.
Another former Vol enjoying success so far this postseason is Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Augie Ojeda (1996). The former UT shortstop hit .274 in 57 regular-season games for the Diamondbacks, and he already has four hits in just seven at-bats through Arizona???s first two National League Divisional Series games against the Chicago Cubs. The Diamondbacks lead that series 2-0. Ojeda, like Helton, is making his first career postseason appearance.
Former Tennessee third baseman Chase Headley (2004-05) fell just shy of making the postseason with the San Diego Padres, as the Padres fell in extra-innings to the Rockies during a National League Wildcard play-in game on Monday. Headley came off the bench in that contest and recorded a single.
First-year UT head coach Todd Raleigh also has one of his former players in the playoffs, as Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Chad Tracy played collegiately at East Carolina during Raleigh???s tenure there as an assistant coach. Tracy is on Arizona???s 40-man roster but is currently inactive due to injury.
All told, 10 former Vols suited up for Major League teams in 2007. And a total of 30 former Vols were active at various levels of professional baseball this year.
