Gary Lucas (baseball)

Gary Lucas
Gary Lucas
	Lucas with the Beloit Snappers in 2008
	Pitcher
	Born: November 8, 1954 (age 69); Riverside, California, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
	April 16, 1980, for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
	October 3, 1987, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	29–44
Earned run average	3.01
Strikeouts	410
Saves	63
Teams
	San Diego Padres (1980–1983); Montreal Expos (1984–1985); California Angels (1986–1987);

Gary Paul Lucas (born November 8, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the San Diego Padres (1980–83), Montreal Expos (1984–85) and California Angels (1986–87).

Career

Playing career

Lucas was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1st round of the 1973 amateur draft. He failed to come to terms with the Reds on a contract and became re-eligible for the draft, subsequently being selected by the San Diego Padres in the 19th round of the 1976 amateur draft.^[1]

Lucas made his major league debut on April 16, 1980, pitching one relief inning in a Padres' loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was used as a starting pitcher for much of his rookie season before being used exclusively as a reliever for the remainder of his major league career. In 1981, Lucas led all National League pitchers by appearing in 57 games. In his final major league appearance, Lucas pitched 2+1⁄3 innings of scoreless work to close out a Jack Lazorko win for the California Angels on October 3, 1987.^[2]

In eight major league seasons, he posted a career record of 29–44 with 63 saves and a 3.01 ERA in 669 innings.

Coaching career

Lucas has served as a pitching coach for a variety of minor league baseball teams. He was the pitching coach with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Milwaukee Brewers' Class-A team in 2015 before spending the following two seasons as a coach with the Class-AA New Britain Rock Cats. Wanting to be closer to his home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Lucas asked to be reassigned back to Beloit, where he remained through 2012,^[3] when the Twins moved their Midwest League team to Cedar Rapids. Lucas spent one year in Cedar Rapids, before being moved to the Twins High-A franchise, the Fort Myers Miracle in 2014. Lucas was dismissed by the Twins following the 2014 season.

References

^ Gary Lucas https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lucasga01.shtml
^ Saturday, October 3, 1987, Anaheim Stadium https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL198710030.shtml
^ For Twins minor league coach Gary Lucas, it's about giving back to the game http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_20934756/tom-powers-twins-minor-league-coach-gary-lucas

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference

[1] Gary Lucas https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lucasga01.shtml

[2] Saturday, October 3, 1987, Anaheim Stadium https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL198710030.shtml

[3] For Twins minor league coach Gary Lucas, it's about giving back to the game http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_20934756/tom-powers-twins-minor-league-coach-gary-lucas

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