Roughly one thousand hitters qualified for a Minor League batting title in 2008, but just one managed to join the elusive and highly prestigious .400 club.

Roberto Lopez of the Orem Owlz made Pioneer League history at the plate this season, earning the MiLBY for Best Short-Season Hitter.

It may indeed be far easier to hit .400 over two and a half months than to do so over five, but what Lopez accomplished this year was nothing short of extraordinary.

While the .400 average may have been the focal point of his successful campaign, the 23-year-old first baseman also came tantalizingly close to winning the Pioneer League Triple Crown. He ranked first on the Rookie-level circuit in RBIs (72) and second in homers (14).

"All I was focused on this season was hitting the ball hard and making the transition from metal bats to wood," said the University of Southern California product, who was selected by the Angels in the 25th round of June's First-Year Player Draft.

"Some much of this game is mental, so I just worked on staying consistent, making little adjustments here and there when I needed to."

Hitting .400 has long been the gold standard for offensive consistency, and Lopez was nothing if not consistent. The San Diego native started his professional career with a 24-game hitting streak and ultimately batted safely in 60 of 67 contests.

"I really wanted to get that [.400] mark, but at the same time I tried to keep it in the back of my head and not let it control what I was doing," he said.

"Toward the end of the season my teammates started giving me a hard time, like 'Hey, are you going to be sitting out the last couple of games?' I just wanted to keep playing."

As it turned out, Lopez did sit out the final game of the regular season, but it wasn't his decision. He entered the penultimate contest batting .399 and flew out in the first inning, but lofted a sacrifice fly in the third and laced a two-run single in the fifth to put him at an even .400. Manager Tom Kotchman immediately shut him down until the playoffs.

"Not many people have reached that mark, so it meant a lot to me," said Lopez. "But at the same time, maybe that extra day off cost me the Triple Crown."

Lopez's desire to accomplish another rare offensive feat was bolstered by the fact that he was competing with teammate Luis Jimenez for the home run title. The 20-year-old third baseman slugged 15 roundtrippers to lead the circuit, edging Lopez by one.

"We were always giving each other a hard time, talking about who was going to hit more," said Lopez of his friendly rivalry with Jimenez.

"We really fed off of each other. I'm more of a line-drive hitter than a power hitter, though. I didn't hit very many [homers] in the first half, but in the second half I really started to connect."

While most first-year players are preoccupied with proving they can cut it as a pro, Lopez was able to center his goals around a chase for the Triple Crown.

"I always liked wood bats instead of metal, because even though metal gives you more power, your swing gets out of sync," he said. "And I had friends who had been drafted in previous seasons, so I was able to talk to them about the Minors and apply that information. It's all about staying in shape and keeping that mental focus."

And now, that mental focus is on his future.

"I'm hoping to start the [2009] season in Low-A, and if I keep doing well then I can end the year in High-A," Lopez said. "It's going to be a lot tougher to hit .400 as I move higher, so maybe that's an unrealistic goal. Playing a full season is going to be an experience, but I'll be ready.

"I'm just going to push myself to get better and better, and whatever happens, happens. It's not something I can control."