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Rockies on the Rise
Francis smokin' in AAA debut; pair of Visalia Oaks now pair of Tulsa Drillers.

07.26.04 – The Colorado Rockies have a trio of Jeff's on the farm that are living up to their MLN Fab50 billings, with all three recently earning promotions.

Pitching phenom Jeff Francis, third baseman Jeff Baker and centerfielder Jeff Salazar are tearing up the minors and steadily making their way to Coors Field.

Francis made a stunning Triple-A debut with the Colorado Sky Sox on July 17, striking out 12 of the 24 batters he faces in seven innings, allowing just one hit.

Before his PCL promotion, Jeff led the Texas League with a 13-1 record, a 1.98 earned-run average and 147 strikeouts.

In his second Class AAA start, Francis allowed one run on six hits and struck out six in six innings against the Oklahoma RedHawks on July 22.

Meanwhile, the other Jeff's, Salazar and Baker, both earned promotions this month from the California League's Visalia Oaks to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.

Jeff Baker, batting .330 with 23 doubles, a triple, and 11 home runs, has been a huge success for the Rockies organization this year. He ranked third in the California League with 64 runs batted in, sixth in slugging percentage at .547 and ninth in the league with 60 runs scored.
Baker was a fourth round pick by the Rockies in 2002 and this season is on Colorado's 40-man Major League roster.

Jeff Salazar's move up to Tulsa is also well deserved. Jeff has put up great numbers, pacing the California League with 79 runs scored as well as 109 hits and 40 extra base hits.

Salazar recently played centerfield in the California League vs. Carolina League All Star Game.