POINT AFTER: A ripped Spilborghs ripping up Texas League

May 20, 2005

By Nick Masuda
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Ryan Spilborghs knows that he is going to make the big leagues.

In his words, "it isn't a matter of if, but a matter of when."

And on Monday, he moved a lot closer.

The former UCSB and Santa Barbara High baseball star hit for the cycle with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, becoming only the fifth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

"It was just one of those days," said Spilborghs. "They were throwing it where I wanted to hit it."

Spilborghs tripled in the first, singled in the third, hit a two-run homer in the fifth and doubled in the seventh. The 4-for-5 night lifted his average to .375.

He credited his offseason workout regimen for his hot start to the season. He's hitting .368 with three homers and a team-high 30 RBIs.

He worked with trainer Marcus Elliott and former Dons teammate Matt Vasquez (who plays in the Tigers organization).

"I have seen huge improvements with everything," said Spilborghs. "I am feeling really fit and it has carried so much into what I am doing right now. That's helping me play better than everybody."