After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2011, Jon Lucas posted a 3-3 record with a 3.93 ERA with the Bluefield Blue Jays this season

Jon Lucas, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher from Mendham, New Jersey, pitched this year as a senior for the Wagner Rams, signed this past June as an undrafted free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.

While he admits it would have been nice to see his name called out during the draft, Lucas also states he is not disappointed as all he wanted was the opportunity to play professional baseball. 

“I would be lying if I said that I was not a little bit disappointed when my name didn’t pop up during the draft, but that disappointment disappeared quickly,” Lucas told JaysProspects.

When asked about the experience, the young 23-year-old right-handed-pitcher quickly explained how the whole procedure took place: 

“I was at the gym at the time and it was really late in the draft and I was constantly looking on my phone at mlb.com to see if my name had been called.  I then received a text message from my agent, Dave PePe, that said, “If Toronto doesn’t draft you, they want to sign as soon as possible.” At this time I was kind of going nuts just waiting to hear something from someone. Some time had passed and I was on my way to a men’s league game when I got an email on my phone from Michael Pesce, the Blue Jays scout that signed me,that said, “Call me ASAP.”  I pulled over into a nearby elementary school and immediately called Pesce.  I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I made the call, but before I knew it, Mr. Pesce was telling me that even though the Blue Jays didn’t draft me, they would like me to sign as a free agent.  I don’t even think he finished talking when I said, “yes, absolutely!”  The first person I called was my older brother Matt because every day during the draft he would ask if I had heard anything. Then, I called my parents and they were extremely happy.  Overall, it was one of the happiest days of my life, if not the best.  When it comes down to it I didn’t care if I was the first overall pick or the last free agent signed, I just wanted the opportunity to follow my dream. I thank the Toronto Blue Jays organization for seeing enough in me to give me that opportunity.”

Now gaining the opportunity to play for the Blue Jays, JaysProspects was quick to ask Lucas if being raised in New Jersey enabled him to cheer for the Jays’ rivals, the New York Yankees. We were presently surprised with his response: “Even though I lived about an hour away from New York City I am not a Yankees fan; instead, growing up, I was always a fan of Chipper Jones.  We used to get the Braves games televised up here in Jersey and I would always watch just to see him play. When I was in little league I decided to wear my socks up because that how he wore them, I also started to switch hit because Chipper is a switch hitter.”

While he grew up idolizing power hitter, Chipper Jones, Lucas also admitted that he presently admires Andrew Bailey, the closer for the Oakland Athletics: “Like me, Bailey also went to Wagner College,” Lucas said. “It’s great to see someone from the same small college make it to the Big Leagues and doing really well.”

But Lucas is also doing really well. In fact, in his first year with the Blue Jays’ organization, he played in 21 games out of the bullpen for the Bluefield Blue Jays, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.93 ERA. In over 36 innings pitched, he allowed only 16 runs, struck out 24 and walked only nine. 

“Our team in Bluefield was made up of some of the best guys I’ve played with and our team chemistry was the best that I have been a part of,” Lucas said. “The team accomplishments like winning the Mercer Cup or clinching the top spot in the Appalachian League against or winning the first round in play offs against Elizabethan all stand out in my mind.”

From a personal standpoint, however, Lucas mentioned his favourite moment with Bluefield to be his first appearance in Pro Ball. “It came at Elizabethan in the first game of our first series.  I was so nervous when I went in! The game was a tied in the 8th inning and I remember standing on the mount and my heart beating out of my chest.  I went out and threw 10 pitches and got out of the inning 1-2-3. When I got on the bus and looked at my phone I had a number of text messages from friends and family saying congratulations.  I got one from my agent that read, “Congratulations on your first professional outing.” Those are all memories that are pretty special to me.” 

Lucas also had special moments at Wagner College, where in 2011; he started in 12 games, going 4-6, leading his team in ERA (4.15), innings, (69.1) and strikeouts (53). Even more impressive is that in his last three starts (22.1 innings) he held a 0.81 ERA, walking only two while striking out 22.

“There a few major differences between college and pro ball. Everything in pro ball is magnified in regards to mistakes and missing spots.  In college you could get away with more like missing spots and still get guys to roll over or pop up. In pro ball you have to be a little more precise because just about everyone in the lineup can hurt you.  Not to mention the strike zone is a lot tighter which makes things more difficult,” Lucas said.

In 2011, Lucas posted a 4-6 record at Wagner college with a team-leading 4.15 ERA. Interestingly, enough, however, he also served as the team’s DH, and batted .288 over his four-year career.

What many people may not expect about the young prospect, however, is that he is also a solid hitter. Lucas played as the team’s designated hitter, posting a .288 average over four years at Wagner. More specifically, in 2010, he hit .308 with 21 runs, eight doubles, one triple, three home runs and 32 RBI while walking 18 times. And in 2009, he hit .333 with 25 runs, seven doubles, two home runs, 30 RBI and 18 walks while posting a .412 on-base percentage. 

“Throughout college I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to be in the lineup every day as well as being able to pitch every weekend.  I have always leaned towards the mound more than anything because I knew that I would have no shot at pro ball as an infielder.  Over the last eight years I have been working with Bill Malloy. Malloy has been a major part in my success from the plate and the mound.  He’s been more or less of a mentor to me since I was in eighth grade. Bill learned hitting and pitching from some of the best while he was in the San Francisco Giants organization.  Along with my father spending countless hours throwing pitches to me in the batting cage.  I have had a lot of help along the way from a lot of great people.”

In discussing his batting, Lucas indicated that his best skill at the plate is his ability use the opposite field as well as being patient at the plate waiting for his pitch to hit. On the mound, however, he discusses his strength in his ability to go after the batters. “I was always taught to go right after the hitters and force them to swing at my pitches not necessarily what they want to hit.” 

Lucas is able to do this readily thanks to a strong pitch repertoire, including a 2-seam fastball, a 4-seam fastball, a change-up and a slider. “My change-up is my pitch that I have a lot of confidence in as well as my two-seamer,” Lucas said. “They both move pretty well for the most part so I can fall back on one of those to get me out jams.”

While Lucas recognizes his strengths, he plans on spending his offseason making himself even stronger: “I am going to be working on polishing my mechanics and making sure my body is in the best shape it can be for spring training and the 2012 season. I also plan on spending as much time as I can with my friends and family,” he said. 

Interestingly, while many players have admitted to wanting to spend their off-season in front of the couch watching a hockey or a football game, Lucas admitted that he has other things in mind. “To be honest, I would much rather watch a documentary on the Revolutionary War than watch a sporting event like the Super Bowl. I’ve always been kind of a history buff,” he said.

JaysProspects wishes Jon Lucas the best of luck in the future and we thank him kindly for his time.