Lucas Duda

Lucas Duda

Duda with the New York Mets
New York Mets – No. 21
First baseman
Born: February 3, 1986
Fontana, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 2010 for the New York Mets
Career statistics
(through April 18, 2015)
Batting average .252
Home runs 75
Runs batted in 253
Teams

Lucas Christopher Duda[1] (born February 3, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2010. Prior to playing professionally, Duda attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. Duda bats left-handed and throws right-handed.[1]

Early life

Duda was born in Fontana, California, on February 3, 1986.[1] He attended Arlington High School in Riverside, California.[2][3] Duda then enrolled in the University of Southern California (USC),[1] where he played college baseball for the USC Trojans baseball team from 2005 through 2007.[3] Duda played 143 games for the Trojans, hitting 11 home runs, with 81 runs batted in, and a .275 batting average.[3]

Baseball career

Duda was drafted by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, as the 243rd overall selection.[1]

Minor leagues

Duda with the Binghamton Mets in 2010.

Duda began the 2010 season at the Double-A Binghamton Mets, and was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on June 14.[4] While in Buffalo, Duda homered in five consecutive games, tying a Bisons record.[4] In 70 games for Buffalo, Duda hit 17 home runs, 2 triples, 23 doubles, and had 53 runs batted in, while compiling a .314 batting average.[4] At the end of the season, the Bisons named him their Most Valuable Player.[5]

New York Mets

2010

On August 31, 2010, the Mets announced that Duda would be added to the major league roster as part of their September call-ups.[4][6] Duda made his major league debut on September 1, against the Atlanta Braves, facing starting pitcher Tommy Hanson, whom he played against in high school.[2] He went hitless in three at-bats, but made a "stellar sliding catch" in the outfield.[2][6] Duda had to leave the game in the eighth inning due to hamstring cramps, which he said came from dehydrating while on the plane from Buffalo to Atlanta.[2] On September 17, 2010, again batting against Hanson, Duda hit his first career major-league home run.[7] Former Mets manager Jerry Manuel watched Duda during batting practice when he was first called up to the Majors and noted that Duda reminded him of Magglio Ordóñez or Moisés Alou.[7] He batted .202.[8] The Mets named Duda their Sterling Organizational Player of the Year in 2010.[9]

2011

On April 10, 2011, Duda was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[10]

On August 8, 2011, batting in the cleanup spot for the first time in his major league career, Duda picked up his first major-league walk-off hit, with a two-run single off of Padres closer and former Mets reliever Heath Bell. He batted .292 for the season.[8]

2012

Duda was selected as the starting right fielder for the Mets to begin the 2012 campaign. On April 7, 2012, Duda had his first multi-homer game, hitting two solo shots off the Atlanta Braves in a 4–2 Mets' victory. Going into June 26, Duda was hitting .269 with a team-high 11 home runs, yet from June 26 to July 24 Duda was hitting .138 with one home run and a .200 slugging percentage.[11] The sub par batting performance coupled with poor fielding prompted his being demoted to Triple-A Buffalo.[11]

On August 26, the Mets recalled Duda from Buffalo. It was the 26-year-old’s second stint in the majors during the 2012 season.[12] He batted .239 for the season.[8]

In October, Duda broke his right wrist moving furniture in South California, and had surgery on November 5. However, Duda returned in time for spring training.[13]

2013

On June 23, Duda was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle between his ribs.[14] Following a rehabilitation stint Duda was activated and then immediately optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s.[15] Duda was recalled on August 24.[16] He batted .223 for the season.[8]

2014

On April 4, Mets' manager Terry Collins announced that Duda would get the bulk of the playing time at 1st base. Later that night, Duda hit two 2-run homeruns in a 4-3 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.

On August 1, Duda hit his 20th home run of the season against the San Francisco Giants' pitcher Ryan Vogelsong. Duda had never reached the 20 home run mark before the 2014 season.

On September 28, Duda hit his career high 30th home run of the season. That home run put him at 92 runs batted in, another career high.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Profile". ESPN. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Rubin, Adam (September 2, 2010). "Duda debuts on meaningless Mets night; Cramps hamper rookie as Amazin's start September on bad note". ESPN. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lucas Duda Called Up To The Majors By The New York Mets; He becomes the 97th former Trojan to play in the major leagues". USC Trojans. September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Mets Select Contract of Lucas Duda". milb.com. August 31, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ Martino, Andy (September 2, 2010). "Duda named Bisons MVP, Misch best pitcher". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Martino, Andy (September 2, 2010). "New York Mets pitcher Jenrry Mejia excited about starting game Saturday against Chicago Cubs". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 McCullough, Andy. "Mets wrapup: Angel Pagan's absence, Jonathon Niese's mistakes and Lucas Duda's homer". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3
  9. ↑ "Mets honor top Minor League prospects". Mlb.mlb.com. September 15, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  10. ↑ Mazzeo, Mike (April 10, 2011). "Mets calling up two relievers". espn.go.com. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Duda demoted to Triple-A to make way for Harvey". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Lucas Duda To Be Recalled By Mets". CBS News New York. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Mets' Lucas Duda breaks wrist moving furniture". Yahoo! Sports. November 6, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Mets Place Duda On 15-Day Disabled List". CBS News New York. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Duda activated from DL, optioned to Triple-A". MLB. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  16. ↑ McShane, Chris (August 24, 2013). "Mets recall Lucas Duda, option Mike Baxter to Las Vegas". Retrieved August 24, 2013.

External links

Preceded by
Ike Davis		 Mets Organizational Player of the Year
2010 		Succeeded by
Josh Satin