The consistent “ping” echoes from the far south end of Queen Creek High School as one baseball after another shoots into the left-centerfield gap, some landing over the fence under the Bulldogs’ electronic scoreboard. The early-season workout had just begun but Jacob Berry appears to already be in mid-season form.
The sophomore infielder/outfielder, ranked as the fourth-highest in-state prospect in the 2020 class after hitting .354 with 24 runs driven in and eight doubles as a freshman on varsity, has always been a natural at the plate.
Many of Jacob’s baseball genes come his father Dr. Perry Berry, the Queen Creek School District Superintendent and a fourth-round pick of the Houston Astros back in 1990 after a standout college career at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“As soon as I started seeing him in some of these competitive club sports, I knew he was going to be able to hit,” Perry Berry said to Sports360AZ.com. “It was pretty clear he was pretty discipled, he had good plate coverage. He’s got that hitter’s mentality.”
With his advanced approach at the plate, Jacob spent most of the past off-season refining and improving the other half of his game leading into what is expected to a big sophomore season this spring at QC.“I’ve worked hard in the weight room and continued to get better in the field,” Perry explained to Sports360.com. “I’ve worked more on fundamental drills and getting quicker on my feet. Anything that will help me get to balls.”
The switch-hitting Berry, despite only being a sophomore, will be looked upon to step into more of leadership role for the young Bulldogs who went 24-5 in 2017.
“All of my players are leaders and I expect the same effort from all of them,” head coach Mikel Moreno said to CountyLinePreps.com. “But because Jacob is a little more advanced, execution-wise I hold him to a little bit higher standard.”
Berry, who has also played football and basketball, says his parents never pushed him to participate in athletics, only offer their encouragement and always stress academics before athletics.
The well-rounded Berry patterns his game on the diamond after a number of MLB stars, including Bryce Harper’s approach at the plate and Mike Trout’s overall work ethic.
No one will ever question Jacob Berry’s worth ethic on or off the field.
After all, it’s in the family.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.