Sticking to plan paying off nicely for Baxendale

Chattanooga Lookouts pitcher DJ Baxendale (22) pitches while playing the Jacksonville Suns at AT&T Field on Sunday, June 21, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chattanooga Lookouts pitcher DJ Baxendale (22) pitches while playing the Jacksonville Suns at AT&T Field on Sunday, June 21, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

SPRINGDALE -- DJ Baxendale is enjoying more success in his second stint at the Class AA level in the Minnesota Twins organization.

The former Arkansas Razorbacks right-hander recently threw a scoreless inning in the Southern League All-Star game after helping the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Lookouts win a first-half division title. Baxendale needed only five pitches to retire the side against a team that included former Razorback Zack Cox, who made the All-Star team for the Jacksonville Suns.

DJ Baxendale glance

TEAM Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA Minnesota Twins)

POSITION Pitcher

HEIGHT 6-2

WEIGHT 190

NOTEWORTHY Selected to the Southern League All-Star team and pitched a scoreless inning in the game. … Has 3-1 record and 3.64 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 21 walks in 59 1/3 innings for Chattanooga. … Played three seasons at Arkansas, where he was named second-team All-SEC as a junior.

"We had just finished playing Jacksonville and I rode with Zack down to the all-star game," Baxendale said. "Getting to see Zack and playing in the all-star game was a cool experience. I'm glad I was able to go out there and contribute to the win."

Baxendale has contributed plenty this season with a 3-1 record and 3.64 earned-run average for Chattanooga, which is 44-33. Baxendale, who is being groomed as a starter, allowed only 1 run and 3 hits in 4 innings in his last start July 5.

"He worked hard after a rough start and finished strong as expected," Chattanooga pitching coach Stu Cliburn said. "He struck out the last three of four batters he faced and retired eight of the last nine. We look forward to an even better outing when he is on the mound again."

Baxendale has found his groove after spending part of last season at Class AA New Britain (Conn.), where he was 0-3 with a 5.75 ERA. Baxendale spent most of last season at Class A Fort Meyers before being promoted to Chattanooga, where Minnesota moved its Class AA farm team after dropping its 20-year partnership with New Britain.

He credits much of his recent success to preparation and avoiding injuries.

"I've learned you have to have a game plan and stick to it," said Baxendale, who was selected by the Twins in the 10th round of the major league amateur draft in 2012. "As a starter, you need to take your bullpen work seriously and keep your body in shape and be ready to go every fifth day.

"There's a lot of guys fighting for an opportunity, so you have to make the best it it when your time comes."

Baxendale had plenty of success on the mound during his three years with the Razorbacks. As a freshman, he posted seven saves while appearing in 29 games. He was mostly a starter during his sophomore season, when he was selected second-team All-SEC after posting a 10-2 record with 3 saves and a 1.58 ERA.

As a junior, Baxendale set a single-single record with 20 starts for the Razorbacks and finished 8-5 with a 3.11 ERA. Arkansas went 46-22 in 2012 and needed one more victory to advance to the championship round at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. South Carolina eliminated Arkansas 3-2 after losing 2-1 to the Razorbacks earlier in the tournament.

"I'll always remember that whole Omaha experience and getting to play at a place like Arkansas," Baxendale said. "I loved being a Razorback and the friendships I made.

"I'm going to keep playing baseball until somebody tells me I can't play anymore. That's when I'll stop."

Sports on 07/08/2015

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