Jonathan Lucroy
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Charles Lucroy (born June 13, 1986, in Eustis, Florida
) is a Major League Baseball
catcher
for the Milwaukee Brewers
.
. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
for three years, and became one of the most successful players in Ragin' Cajuns history. Over his career, he set the school record in doubles (54), runs batted in (184), and total bases (414) as well as recording the second most career hits (241) in just three seasons. His individual accolades include being named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American (2005), All-Sun Belt Conference (2005, 2007), Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team (2006), Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll (2006.) Lucroy led the Ragin Cajuns to two NCAA Regional appearances (2005, 2007) in his freshman and junior seasons respectively.
On April 19, 2011, Umatilla High School retired Lucroy's number 6 jersey.
. He would go on to be named a Post-Season All-Star, while also earning Baseball America Rookie All-Star honors. In 2008, he split the season between the Class A West Virginia Power
and Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees
. He was named a Mid-Season All-Star during his time with West Virginia. Lucroy spent the entire 2009 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars
. For the third season in a row, he earned all-star minor league honors when he was named a Mid-Season All-Star in the Southern League. He began the 2010 season with Huntsville, and was later promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
.
in the first ever interleague game at Target Field
. He recorded his first major league hit in his first at-bat against Nick Blackburn
. He became the team's everyday starter at catcher for the second half of the season, and hit .253 over that time. Known throughout college and the minor leagues as a player capable of hitting for average, he was unhappy with his performance at the plate during his first season in the majors, and vowed to improve in that area. Despite his displeasure with his performance, coaches with the team were vocal about the difficulties facing a rookie catcher and commended Lucroy for his performance.
Lucroy missed the first ten games of the 2011 season with a broken right pinky finger. When he returned, he again was the team's everyday starter at catcher, entering his first full season in the majors. As of August 15, 2011, he is batting .285 with 9 homeruns and 50 RBIs.
On May 28, 2011, in a game against the San Francisco Giants
at Miller Park, Lucroy successfully executed a walk-off suicide squeeze, batting in Ryan Braun
. He finished the 2011 regular season batting .265 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Lucroy is known as one of the top young catchers in the National League
.
He was married on July 7, 2010, and became a father on August 6, 2010 to a daughter named Ellia.
Eustis, Florida
Eustis is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,106 at the 2000 census. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 19,129. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
High school and college
Lucroy attended Umatilla High School in Umatilla, FloridaUmatilla, Florida
Umatilla is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. It was named after Umatilla, Oregon. The population was 2,214 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 2,502. Umatilla is known as the Gateway to the Ocala National Forest,...
. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
for three years, and became one of the most successful players in Ragin' Cajuns history. Over his career, he set the school record in doubles (54), runs batted in (184), and total bases (414) as well as recording the second most career hits (241) in just three seasons. His individual accolades include being named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American (2005), All-Sun Belt Conference (2005, 2007), Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team (2006), Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll (2006.) Lucroy led the Ragin Cajuns to two NCAA Regional appearances (2005, 2007) in his freshman and junior seasons respectively.
On April 19, 2011, Umatilla High School retired Lucroy's number 6 jersey.
Draft and minor leagues
Lucroy was drafted by Milwaukee in the 3rd round of the 2007 amateur entry draft, 101st overall. He made his professional debut in 2007 with the Rookie league Helena BrewersHelena Brewers
The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...
. He would go on to be named a Post-Season All-Star, while also earning Baseball America Rookie All-Star honors. In 2008, he split the season between the Class A West Virginia Power
West Virginia Power
This article is about the baseball team, for the electric utility serving southeast West Virginia from 1986-99, see Allegheny Energy.The West Virginia Power is a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League, and is the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in...
and Class A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
. He was named a Mid-Season All-Star during his time with West Virginia. Lucroy spent the entire 2009 season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
. For the third season in a row, he earned all-star minor league honors when he was named a Mid-Season All-Star in the Southern League. He began the 2010 season with Huntsville, and was later promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
.
Call-up and major leagues
On May 21, 2010, Lucroy was called up to Milwaukee and made his major league debut that same day against the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the first ever interleague game at Target Field
Target Field
Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
. He recorded his first major league hit in his first at-bat against Nick Blackburn
Nick Blackburn
Robert Nicholas Blackburn is a Major League Baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins system. He graduated from Del City High School in Del City, Oklahoma. He attended Seminole State College. The 6-4, 227 pound right-hander was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 34th round of the...
. He became the team's everyday starter at catcher for the second half of the season, and hit .253 over that time. Known throughout college and the minor leagues as a player capable of hitting for average, he was unhappy with his performance at the plate during his first season in the majors, and vowed to improve in that area. Despite his displeasure with his performance, coaches with the team were vocal about the difficulties facing a rookie catcher and commended Lucroy for his performance.
Lucroy missed the first ten games of the 2011 season with a broken right pinky finger. When he returned, he again was the team's everyday starter at catcher, entering his first full season in the majors. As of August 15, 2011, he is batting .285 with 9 homeruns and 50 RBIs.
On May 28, 2011, in a game against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at Miller Park, Lucroy successfully executed a walk-off suicide squeeze, batting in Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
. He finished the 2011 regular season batting .265 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Lucroy is known as one of the top young catchers in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
.
Personal
Lucroy was born in Eustis, Florida, and has two brothers. His cousin, Jeremy Lucroy, also played baseball for the Ragin' Cajuns.He was married on July 7, 2010, and became a father on August 6, 2010 to a daughter named Ellia.