SALT LAKE CITY -- Jeff Baisley didn't print up the invitations or organize this party, but somehow he ended up hosting anyway.
That's because Baisley -- along with fellow infielder Gil Velasquez -- are the Salt Lake Bees' representatives in the 2011 Triple-A All-Star game held tonight at 7 p.m. at Spring Mobile Ballpark, as the stars of the Pacific Coast League take on top prospects from the International League.
"I don't know if I want to be considered the host, but I guess it comes with the territory," Baisley said. They'll be joined by first-year Salt Lake Bees manager Keith Johnson, who will be a PCL bench coach.
Is there any extra pressure on Baisley to perform for the hometown crowd?
"Yeah ... everyone keeps bringing it up, so the pressure keeps mounting," he said with a smile.
Baisley didn't win Monday's home run derby, but he hasn't had any problems handling the pressure so far this season in Salt Lake. He's hitting .323 with 17 homers, 64 RBIs and 17 doubles; his 108 hits ranks third in the league.
Velazquezhas, a shortstop, appeared in 68 games for the Bees in 2011, hitting a team-high and career-high .355 with 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 38 RBI and eight stolen bases.
Las Vegas lefty Brad Mills will get the start for the PCL in the 24th annual Triple-A All-Star game, while Columbus right-hander Zach McAllister gets the nod for the International League stars.
Former Ogden Raptor Trayvon Robinson participated in the home run derby as well. His current manager, Albuquerque Isotopes skipper Lorenzo Bundy, will direct the PCL team, with Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh in the opposing dugout.
Robinson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round in 2005 and made a brief appearance with the Raptors later that summer, hitting .217 in eight games with one home run.
That was too small a sample size to reflect Robinson's potential, however. In Albuquerque, surrounded by other former Ogden Raptors, he's hitting .300 and is fourth in the Pacific Coast League with 20 home runs.
He hasn't forgotten the Pioneer League, however.
"I remember every step," he said. "I remember the plane flight, I remember playing in Ogden, playing left field, playing center field. Just being 30 minutes away, playing in an All-Star Game (in Salt Lake City), I just kind of reminisce on all the steps I took."
Baisley will start at third and bat seventh tonight, while Robinson will hit eighth and start in the outfield.
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