In 1995, the Daily Bruin called him part of “maybe the most heralded freshman recruiting class in recent UCLA baseball history.” That group also included three other future big-leaguers: slugger Troy Glaus, Eric Byrnes, and Jim Parque.

Dan Keller, a teammate and fellow pitcher at UCLA, started a baseball instruction company called Lifeletics.

Whether it was pouring rain or scorching hot, Tom would roll out of bed for a morning jog.” Jacquez made the Bruins starting rotation as a freshman in 1995.

I’m giving it 100 percent every time.’” Weighing the medical risks, Thomas was prepared to return if the Bruins needed him, but instead he got back in action during the summer of 1996 with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

UCLA won the NCAA’s Midwest Regional tournament, although Harvard surprised Jacquez in the opener, winning 7-3.

The Bruins made it to the College World Series as the #4 seed before losing two tough games to Miami and Mississippi State.

On the recommendation of area scout Mark Ralston, the Phillies selected Jacquez in the sixth round of the 1997 amateur draft (he was eligible because he had junior standing).

By leaving early, I was able to take one step closer to achieving my goal.” A couple of weeks later, he signed and reported to Batavia in the NY-Penn League.

The Philadelphia Daily News indicated on August 30 that he might even get a September call-up to the big club, but that was not the case (although he pitched well in three relief appearances for the Barons).

Baseball Prospectus wrote, “His progress this year as a reliever is apparently a product of minor-league pitching coach Gorman Heimueller’s work with him.” In early September, Jacquez got his call to the big leagues as Philadelphia purchased his contract.

He entered the Baltimore Orioles farm system and played for the Bowie Baysox in 2004, after which he voluntarily retired from pro baseball due to shoulder injury.

He has also served as a site director for seven years with Aim High, a San Francisco educational non-profit that provides summer academic and social learning opportunities for low income middle school youth.