Nathan Lukes
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 38
Outfielder
Born: (1994-07-12) July 12, 1994
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 30, 2023, for the Toronto Bue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.192
Home runs0
Runs batted in2
Teams

Nathan Donald Lukes (born July 12, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

High school and college

Lukes grew up in Antelope, California and attended Center High School.[1] He enrolled at California State University, Sacramento and played college baseball for the Sacramento State Hornets for three seasons. He was named All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) after hitting .347 with 26 RBIs and 54 runs scored in his sophomore season. After the season, Lukes played collegiate summer baseball for the Victoria HarbourCats in the West Coast League.[2] He repeated as a first team All-WAC selection as a junior after batting for a .345 average with 81 total hits, seven home runs, 38 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.[3] Lukes finished his collegiate career as Sacramento State's all-time hit leader with 244.[4]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians selected Lukes in the seventh round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.[5] After signing with the team he was assigned to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, where he played in five games before missing the rest of the season after breaking his right hand.[6] He began the 2016 season with the Single–A Lake County Captains before being promoted to the High–A Lynchburg Hillcats.[7]

Tampa Bay Rays

On August 1, 2016, the Indians included Lukes in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays in return for Brandon Guyer.[8] Lukes started the 2017 season in Charlotte before being promoted to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits after six games.[9][10] Lukes returned to Montgomery in 2018, playing in 115 games and batting .278/.331/.400 with 6 home runs, 51 RBI, and 9 stolen bases.[11]

Lukes played for the Triple-A Durham Bulls in 2019, where he batted .219/.294/.319 with four home runs and 31 RBI in 91 games. He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] Lukes was named to the Rays' 2021 Spring Training roster as a non-roster invitee.[13] He spent the entirety of the 2021 season with Durham, playing in 85 games and batting .303/.352/.456 with 4 home runs and 44 RBI.[14]

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 29, 2021, Lukes signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and was invited to spring training.[15] Lukes played in 111 games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, hitting .285/.364/.425 with 11 home runs, 61 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.

On November 10, 2022, the Blue Jays added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. On March 28, 2023, Lukes was announced as the final member of Toronto's Opening Day roster.[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ Paterson, Bill (May 6, 2015). "Former walk-on Nathan Lukes grows into big hit for Sacramento State baseball". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Dheensaw, Cleve (June 21, 2014). "HarbourCats' Nathan Lukes living, breathing, dreaming ball". Times Colonist.
  3. ↑ Meisel, Zack (June 9, 2015). "Cleveland Indians make selections on Day 2 of the MLB amateur draft". Cleveland.com.
  4. ↑ "Former walk-on Nathan Lukes grows into big hit for Sacramento State baseball". The Sacramento Bee. May 6, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Indians draft Sacramento State's Nathan Lukes in seventh round". The Sacramento Bee.
  6. ↑ Lasier, David (April 28, 2016). "Lake County Captains rout Bees in series finale". The News-Herald.
  7. ↑ "Lake County Captains extend win streak to three with 5-4 victory over South Bend". The News-Herald.
  8. ↑ "Indians acquire OF Guyer from Rays for minor-league prospects". ESPN.com. August 1, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Nathan Lukes promoted to Double-A Montgomery".
  10. ↑ "Lukes' double lifts Biscuits over Generals". Montgomery Advertiser. April 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Nathan Lukes - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  12. ↑ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Seven Former HarbourCats to Participate in 2021 MLB Spring Training Camps". February 20, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Nathan Lukes Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Toronto Blue Jays on Twitter". Twitter. November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (March 28, 2023). "Blue Jays' 26-man roster finally comes into focus with Lukes making team". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Makes Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
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