By taking a couple steps back, El Segundo teenager Jack Dulgarian has moved forward in the sport he loves – baseball.
When the catcher/first baseman was informed by Eagle varsity head coach Steve Shevlin that he wouldn’t see much action during his senior year this spring, Dulgarian turned his focus to umpiring – something he has enjoyed since his days of playing Little League.
“I appreciated Coach Shevlin for being honest with me,” Dulgarian said. “He told me I wouldn’t get much playing time and would probably be the bullpen catcher all season.”
Dulgarian hopes the move from playing catcher to umpiring behind home plate will pay dividends in the long run. Although the University of Arizona-bound Dulgarian has yet to declare a major, he stresses the importance of an education and that his aspiration of becoming a professional umpire will be put on hold for a few years.
He will, however, be taking a week off from school in October to attend the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring in Tucson.
The academy is one of the most successful professional umpire training programs in the U.S. with many of its graduates being hired into the minor and major leagues over the last 20 years.
“I spoke with Jim Evans and he told me that he admired me for wanting to be an umpire,” Dulgarian said. “But he also said ‘They will take older umpires based on experience even though your skill levels may be greater. Wait a couple of years before getting serious.’”
Dulgarian began officiating when he was 13 years old and was one of the founders of the Manhattan Beach Little League (MBLL) Student Umpire’s Association (SUA). With the support of MBLL past President Tom Tyrer and other board members, the SUA became sanctioned and umpired numerous Little League games.
“I was the guinea pig for the program,” Dulgarian stated. “The goal was to have kids work the bases but I worked behind the plate at times. Umpire Jeff Grundtisch took me under his wing and taught me. He believed younger people were the key to better umpiring. The program grew to 15 kids in three years.”
When Dulgarian was 15, he went to the California Baseball Umpires Association (CBUA) – South Bay Unit to gain experience. He attended meetings, took and passed his exams knowing that he wouldn’t be used as a high school umpire until he reached the age of 18.
When he was 16, Dulgarian worked behind the plate of a Little League District Playoff game – a rarity for someone so young.
Although still a senior in high school, Dulgarian began umpiring prep games when he turned 18.
“Five or six evaluators from CBUA really embraced me,” Dulgarian said. “There were no negative feelings about a younger person taking jobs away from them. I thought I’d be doing freshman or junior varsity games, but went right away to varsity umpiring private schools like Chadwick, Vistamar and Pacific Lutheran.”
Dulgarian recalls a game when, after the pre-game meeting between the coaches and umpires at home plate, one coach asked Dulgarian’s age and questioned his experience.
“I told him it was none of his business and that I didn’t ask him his age,” said Dulgarian, who was working the bases that game.
Later in the game, the same coach was barking from the dugout at Dulgarian’s partner behind the plate.
“I told him that was enough,” Dulgarian exclaimed. “When his comments to me got personal, I tossed him from the game.”
Dulgarian admits some coaches try to intimidate him because of his youth.
“Every coach is different with their own personality,” Dulgarian explained “The best game you can umpire is one when the coach doesn’t know you’re there.”
The highlight of the season came when Dulgarian worked behind the plate in a game played between Serra and Cathedral that determined the Del Rey League championship.
“I got to work with senior umpire Jerry Flory,” Dulgarian said. “It was a treat to see to watch (Serra standout) Dominic Smith pitch. He was the 11th overall pick by the New York Mets.”
Dulgarian also earned the respect of his childhood friend Trent Hammond, a transfer from Mira Costa that later helped Serra defeat the Mustangs in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship game at Dodger Stadium.
“When Trent came to the plate for the first time, he looked at me and just said “What’s up, Jack?’”
Dulgarian’s performance during the high school season earned him the Rookie of the Year award from the CBUA South Bay Unit.
While the average fan may consider a bang-bang play at first base or a pitch on the edge of the plate the toughest call to make, Dulgarian finds another aspect of umpiring the most difficult.
“I feel the toughest part of umpiring is making sure the calls are understood,” Dulgarian said. “You have to be loud and really sell the call.”
Dulgarian’s playing career may have been cut short, but he uses his experience to offer advice to kids facing the same situation.
“Southern California has baseball year round so there are lots of opportunities,” Dulgarian said. “I would tell kids that not playing baseball anymore is not the end of the world. Umpiring gives you the best seat in the house, you’re still involved with the game and you get to see great match ups. It’s the best thankless job out there.”
