Pioneer League: Raptors' catcher takes first steps toward reaching his lofty goal

OGDEN — Blasting three home runs in the first two games of the season is a good first step in achieving every rookie baseball player's dream: making the big leagues.

The Ogden Raptors' Michael Pericht has a long way to go, but he couldn't ask for a better start. After five games of the 2010 Pioneer League season, he had four home runs, 10 hits, 13 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 1.143. Each of those categories led the Pioneer League, with the 13 RBIs more than double than the next-closest competitor.

After nine games, he is still near the top in each of those categories, and his batting average is holding at .424.

Yes, it is early. Not only early in the season, but early in the career of the 22-year-old catcher from Illinois. But he is committed to making the major leagues.

"It's a long haul," he said, "and you have to put a lot of hard work into it. But I wouldn't be here if that wasn't my goal."

Surprisingly, he says he likes catching better than he likes hitting.

"I take a lot of pride in my catching," he said. "I want to become a catcher that every pitcher on the staff enjoys throwing to."

Handling pitchers is a part of his job that he relishes.

"I generally take charge of the game," he said. "There will be times where I'll throw down a pitch and I'll let them shake me off, but if it is a situation where I need the pitch and they try shaking me off, I won't put any other sign down.

"We have pitching coordinators that are telling us to stick to a plan, and I am going to do everything I can to stick to the plan as best as I can. So if they're telling me to stick to a plan, I have to do my job."

His batting practice has not been entirely neglected.

"I have worked on a lot of little things," he said, "like shortening my swing and trying to hit the ball for contact."

And it has paid off. Last year, playing in Arizona, he only hit four home runs the entire season. He has also had to get used to batting with a wooden bat versus the aluminum one he used in college.

Before Arizona, Pericht spent three years playing for a Division II school, St. Joseph's in Indiana. In high school, he experienced strong competition playing in the Chicago area.

However, every place Pericht has played has required a high degree of adaptation.