Karcich Making His Presence Felt
Shortstop Begins Journey Towards Goal
Most potential Major League Baseball draftees don't do anything else except wait by the phone on Draft Day, much less take a school final. But that's exactly what Jon Karcich was doing at Santa Clara University when he was picked in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels tried to call him but his cell phone didn't have reception in the classroom.
"Jon was waiting for a phone call from Cape Cod Baseball League," said Alan Karcich, Jon's father. "He wasn't expecting to get drafted into the MLB this early. He figured it was safe to take the final."
Jon's friend who was sitting next to him taking the final received a text message that Jon had been drafted. She leaned over to tell him and he thought she was joking. She received about ten more text messages and she told him again and he finally decided to check his own cell phone. Fortunately, he had an understanding teacher who let him outside to see if he really had been drafted.
"It was really exciting," said Karcich. "A dream come true. It didn't really set in until the next day."
Jon had been dreaming about this day since he was little. He started playing organized baseball when he was just four years old. He was so talented at an early age that he was allowed to play with the seven-year-old teams when he was just five years old.
"Jon always wanted to pursue professional baseball," his father said. "He dreamt of it as a kid and it kept him focused on the field at a young age."
Karcich played at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California under Coaches Pete Jensen, Joe Kmak, and Rich Jefferies.
"In high school you want a Division-1 scholarship, that's your goal," Karcich said. "Once you get to college, you do it for a couple of years and then your goal is to be drafted. There are different levels and steps to take to reach the Major Leagues."
Karcich hasn't always played short stop. He was put in as third baseman the first two years of high school, but his coach made a sudden move his junior year, and he's played short stop ever since.
Karcich was offered a baseball scholarship to play with the Santa Clara University Broncos in Santa Clara, California. He started all 180 games in which he appeared during his three seasons with the team. He also hit 48 doubles and 18 home runs with 103 RBIs. Broncos Associate Head Coach Mike Zirelli attributes his success to his enthusiasm to learn.
"It's a cliché to say, 'He's a coaches dream', but that's what Jon was," Zirelli said. "He was a good player who entered as a freshman as a good player and became one of the top players in our league because of his work ethic and his willingness to be coachable."
Zirelli also said Karcich was a leader for the team on and off the field while with the Broncos, and baseball was his first priority in his life.
"During his junior year he was voted by the guys as team captain," Zirelli added. "He would also organize barbeques for the team so they could bond together. The team had amazing chemistry on the field. The regular college social scene came in a distant second to Jon."
Karcich entered the draft for the 2009 season and was picked in the seventh round by the Angels, 231 overall. He was expecting top fifteen, but he didn't expect top ten, and was thrilled to be drafted by the Angels.
"To be in the Angles organization is great," Karcich said. "There's a good tradition and the way they teach you to play is different from everyone else in the league."
He also has the complete support of his family, including his three siblings, Ryan, Kristen and Justin. They went to his games at Santa Clara and listen to his Owlz games on the internet. He appreciates the support and admits it's been an interesting transition from college ball to the Minor Leagues.
"The speed of the game here is so fast," said Karcich. "People throw harder and run faster. You're playing against the best competition in the world, and everyone's good and everyone's fast. It took a couple of games to get used to it."
Karcich is glad that he was drafted to the Owlz and has enjoyed playing for Owlz Team Manager Tom Kotchman. He says Kotchman has a great winning tradition and history of being successful and helping players get to the next level.
"He's a tough coach, but it's why he's successful and why people respect him. He is a really great coach," Karcich said.
His father credits Jon's success to his talent and ability to understand the game of baseball.
"He's a baseball genius. He understands the ins and outs of the game and is able to take advice and critique from his coaches and translate it into success on the field."
Karcich wants to enjoy his time here with the Owlz and learn as much as he can so he can keep progressing through the Minor League system.
"I want to play baseball as long as possible," Karcich said. "It's my passion, it's what makes me happy. I am so grateful for the opportunity to play professional baseball."
"Jon was waiting for a phone call from Cape Cod Baseball League," said Alan Karcich, Jon's father. "He wasn't expecting to get drafted into the MLB this early. He figured it was safe to take the final."
Jon's friend who was sitting next to him taking the final received a text message that Jon had been drafted. She leaned over to tell him and he thought she was joking. She received about ten more text messages and she told him again and he finally decided to check his own cell phone. Fortunately, he had an understanding teacher who let him outside to see if he really had been drafted.
"It was really exciting," said Karcich. "A dream come true. It didn't really set in until the next day."
Jon had been dreaming about this day since he was little. He started playing organized baseball when he was just four years old. He was so talented at an early age that he was allowed to play with the seven-year-old teams when he was just five years old.
"Jon always wanted to pursue professional baseball," his father said. "He dreamt of it as a kid and it kept him focused on the field at a young age."
Karcich played at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California under Coaches Pete Jensen, Joe Kmak, and Rich Jefferies.
"In high school you want a Division-1 scholarship, that's your goal," Karcich said. "Once you get to college, you do it for a couple of years and then your goal is to be drafted. There are different levels and steps to take to reach the Major Leagues."
Karcich hasn't always played short stop. He was put in as third baseman the first two years of high school, but his coach made a sudden move his junior year, and he's played short stop ever since.
Karcich was offered a baseball scholarship to play with the Santa Clara University Broncos in Santa Clara, California. He started all 180 games in which he appeared during his three seasons with the team. He also hit 48 doubles and 18 home runs with 103 RBIs. Broncos Associate Head Coach Mike Zirelli attributes his success to his enthusiasm to learn.
"It's a cliché to say, 'He's a coaches dream', but that's what Jon was," Zirelli said. "He was a good player who entered as a freshman as a good player and became one of the top players in our league because of his work ethic and his willingness to be coachable."
Zirelli also said Karcich was a leader for the team on and off the field while with the Broncos, and baseball was his first priority in his life.
"During his junior year he was voted by the guys as team captain," Zirelli added. "He would also organize barbeques for the team so they could bond together. The team had amazing chemistry on the field. The regular college social scene came in a distant second to Jon."
Karcich entered the draft for the 2009 season and was picked in the seventh round by the Angels, 231 overall. He was expecting top fifteen, but he didn't expect top ten, and was thrilled to be drafted by the Angels.
"To be in the Angles organization is great," Karcich said. "There's a good tradition and the way they teach you to play is different from everyone else in the league."
He also has the complete support of his family, including his three siblings, Ryan, Kristen and Justin. They went to his games at Santa Clara and listen to his Owlz games on the internet. He appreciates the support and admits it's been an interesting transition from college ball to the Minor Leagues.
"The speed of the game here is so fast," said Karcich. "People throw harder and run faster. You're playing against the best competition in the world, and everyone's good and everyone's fast. It took a couple of games to get used to it."
Karcich is glad that he was drafted to the Owlz and has enjoyed playing for Owlz Team Manager Tom Kotchman. He says Kotchman has a great winning tradition and history of being successful and helping players get to the next level.
"He's a tough coach, but it's why he's successful and why people respect him. He is a really great coach," Karcich said.
His father credits Jon's success to his talent and ability to understand the game of baseball.
"He's a baseball genius. He understands the ins and outs of the game and is able to take advice and critique from his coaches and translate it into success on the field."
Karcich wants to enjoy his time here with the Owlz and learn as much as he can so he can keep progressing through the Minor League system.
"I want to play baseball as long as possible," Karcich said. "It's my passion, it's what makes me happy. I am so grateful for the opportunity to play professional baseball."