Berryhill aims for return to Major Leagues

Steve Guiremand

Friday, April 10, 1998 | 7:59 a.m.

He has hit a game-winning home run in the World Series.

He has caught Cy Young Award winners like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

He was a solid backup for the National League West Division champion San Francisco Giants last year.

So considering the lack of quality catching in the major leagues today, one has to wonder how long a veteran switch-hitting catcher with Damon Berryhill's credentials will remain in Triple-A this year.

Better yet, one has to wonder why the 34-year-old Berryhill is playing for the Edmonton Trappers to begin with.

"For me, it's not a matter of if but when," said Edmonton manager Mike Quade about Berryhill's prospects of returning to the big leagues before the Stars' 1-0 victory over Edmonton on Thursday night at Cashman Field.

"A switch-hitting catcher with his credentials brings so much to the party whether it's as a starter or a backup. ... It's a pleasure to watch the way he handles pitchers and calls a game."

Berryhill had a solid year with the Giants in 1997, hitting .257 with three home runs and 23 RBI in just 73 games. But San Francisco obtained Brent Mayne to go along with former Stars standout Brian Johnson and elected not to re-sign Berryhill.

"They gave me this thing that they were worried about my injury situation," Berryhill said. "The injuries I had last year were all b.s. injuries: a dislocated finger, a hamstring, a bad wrist. ... stuff that you could play through but were nagging."

And nothing like the elbow injury that caused him to miss the entire 1996 season after having reconstruction surgery.

"The elbow is fine," Berryhill said. "Last year I didn't have a great year, but I did throw out 21 percent of the guys trying to steal. If I throw out five more guys, it's 30 percent and I'm a phenom."

The Laguna Beach, Calif., native, who was the fourth pick overall in the January 1984 draft by the Chicago Cubs, decided to try to catch on with the catching-thin Athletics in the spring. However, he got hit in the elbow with a pitch in batting practice early in spring drills which put him behind in his competition with highly touted prospect A.J. Hinch and Izzy Molina.

"Because of the (elbow) injury, I changed my throwing motion and got some tendinitis in my shoulder," Berryhill said. "It feels good now, but I still have some strengthening to do there."

In the meantime, Hinch is off to a torrid start with the Athletics. And then earlier this week, Oakland acquired veteran catcher Mike Macfarlane from Kansas City to back up the rookie of the year candidate.

That's not exactly the scenario Berryhill expected when he decided to sign with Oakland.

"One of the reasons I came down here was because I thought it would be the perfect fit ... and it still might," Berryhill said.

"I was pretty (upset) when they kept Izzy because they said he could throw better. It was like common sense went out the window. They've got three young pitchers who can use the guidance of a veteran catcher up there. Instead, they stayed with a catcher with one year of experience."

Not for long. The Athletics made the trade for Macfarlane this week and have designated Molina for reassignment.

"That won't hinder his progress or his work ethic to get back to the big leagues," Quade said of Berryhill. "Whether he plays again with Oakland or with another organization, he'll be there again."

"It wasn't totally unexpected," Berryhill said of the Macfarlane deal. "They had been trying to get him all spring."

Still, Berryhill remains confident that some team eventually will need his services.

"A lot of things can happen," Berryhill said. "A guy can go out and break a leg or throw out a shoulder. At least now I'll be in position to give myself an opportunity in case something like that happens."