Westhampton Beach Grad Ernie Geraci Continues Baseball Career

Ernie Geraci’s love affair with baseball has been more like a marriage — he has stuck with it in good times and bad, sickness and health — and his enduring commitment to the sport finally seems to be paying off.

Geraci, a 2015 graduate of Westhampton Beach High School, is one step closer to the Major League Baseball farm system after signing a contract to play with the Ogden (Utah) Raptors of the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is considered a “partner league” to the MLB, and for Geraci, it represents a step up from last season, when he played in another independent professional baseball league, the Pecos League.

Whether or not Geraci’s journey will take him to Major League Baseball at some point remains to be seen, but he’s happy to have the chance to keep playing professionally, particularly because of the way his collegiate career ended.

After a four-year varsity career as a Hurricane — during which time he was a team captain and All-County selection as a first baseman — Geraci bounced around to several different colleges. He was recruited to play at Coker University, a strong Division II program in South Carolina, but ultimately transferred and ended up at the College of St. Rose in Albany. Geraci missed his entire junior season because of an elbow injury, and was five games into his senior campaign at St. Rose when the season was canceled just five games in because of the pandemic.

Because he had already redshirted one season earlier in his career, he was not eligible to return for another season. Geraci became eligible for the MLB Draft in his junior year, when he was sidelined with the injury and also when the draft was shortened from 40 rounds to just five. While that was disappointing, Geraci said he’s grateful he plays a sport where there are other opportunities to play professionally outside of MLB.

Missing basically half of what should have been a four-year collegiate playing career was tough for Geraci to take, and it strengthened his resolve to continue competing after graduation. So he spent last summer playing in Houston for the Pecos League, putting up good enough numbers to earn a spot with the Raptors.

“I had some good numbers and got my foot in the door,” he said, explaining that making the move up to the Pioneer League stands to better his chances of making it into the MLB farm system.

“Our team is not directly affiliated with Major League Baseball, but it’s overseen by them, so I think it will be a really good opportunity,” he said.

Geraci has been steady and reliable as both a first baseman and outfielder, and at the plate he’s been consistent as a hard contact hitter who can pump out long drives and has a strong on-base percentage.

With the Raptors, Geraci will play a 96-game season that starts on May 1 and concludes in September.

“It’s going to be a long, fun summer of baseball every day,” Geraci said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Summers spent playing competitive baseball several years ago helped Geraci improve on his game during his college years. He played two seasons for the Westhampton Aviators, his hometown team, in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League, helping them to the league title in 2017.

“That was really good for me,” Geraci said. “At that time, I was still really young as a player and person, and my time in the Hamptons League really matured me as a player and hitter, especially facing really good college pitchers every day.”

Dan Luisi coached Geraci when he was on the Aviators and said he’s not surprised that Geraci is still playing and competing at a high level.

“Ernie was someone who wouldn’t allow himself to fail,” he said. “He put in extra work before or after games, and he was really self-motivated and prideful. He always made sure he was doing things the right way. His success is a direct result of his work ethic and his pride in what he does.”

The fact that things didn’t come easy for Geraci has only added to his development as a person and player, rather than hindering his progress, Luisi added.

“Ernie’s had a long road, but it’s been a great journey for him, and I think it’s made him the player and person he is,” he said. “He experienced a lot of adversity as a player, changing schools at times, but I think the underdog mentality he’s always had has helped him play at a higher level every year.

“He was not always the biggest or fastest, but he’s always found ways to do the little things right to get himself on the field,” he continued. “He’s built the mentality that he always has to prove himself and get better.”

Geraci will certainly keep his grip on that mentality when he steps on the field for the Raptors next month. Playing in independent leagues isn’t glamorous, which Geraci learned while toiling in the Texas heat last summer. But his ability to keep it all in perspective has been valuable.

“At the end of the day, it’s still just a game and I try to keep that in mind,” he said. “Things could be a lot worse for me. I just want to play well and keep getting better, and just play at a high level for as long as I possibly can.”