Jonathan Lucroy

[Dad04]

_ Forget AAA that was an above average MLB play. _

Look like a web jem to me dat.

[GrenadaCajun]

Found this article on ESPN today.

Lucroy emerges as Brewers' top catching prospect

Thursday, October 29, 2009 | Print Entry

Posted by Jason Grey
When the Milwaukee Brewers' brass had a year-end meeting with the media, assistant general manager Gord Ash said something interesting: Jonathan Lucroy, not Angel Salome, was the team's top catching prospect.

A third-round pick in the 2007 draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette, Lucroy turned heads last year when he hit .301 with 20 homers between two Class A levels. Half of his year was spent at a strong hitting environment in low Class A, but he still hit well upon his promotion and drew praise for his ability to get on base and control the strike zone.

Lucroy has a solid line-drive swing that he uses to take the ball to all fields. He covers the plate well, and his strong hands and wrists give him the potential for pull power.

[cjr3888]

This year he played at AA Huntsville. Hopefully, he makes the jump to AAA to begin next season.

[CajunCracker]

Full article



Lucroy emerges as Brewers' top catching prospect

Thursday, October 29, 2009 | Print Entry


Posted by Jason Grey

When the Milwaukee Brewers' brass had a year-end meeting with the media, assistant general manager Gord Ash said something interesting: Jonathan Lucroy, not Angel Salome, was the team's top catching prospect.

A third-round pick in the 2007 draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette, Lucroy turned heads last year when he hit .301 with 20 homers between two Class A levels. Half of his year was spent at a strong hitting environment in low Class A, but he still hit well upon his promotion and drew praise for his ability to get on base and control the strike zone.

Lucroy has a solid line-drive swing that he uses to take the ball to all fields. He covers the plate well, and his strong hands and wrists give him the potential for pull power.


Promoted to Double-A this year, Lucroy didn't hit for the expected pop but still had a decent season, hitting .267 with 32 doubles and nine homers, and walking (78) more than he struck out (66). While he didn't hit for a lot of authority, he still improved his walk and strikeout rates while advancing a level, which is a good sign. To hear Lucroy tell it, though, it wasn't as good a year as some may believe.

"At the beginning of the year, I didn't really feel comfortable," Lucroy said. "Something felt off all year when I was in the box. I hit OK, but not near the expectations I had for myself. I had a chance to come to the [Arizona] Fall League and work on it and improve for next year, so I'm just trying to get my swing back to where it used to be, going back to my middle-away approach."

Lucroy has a tendency to jump at the ball sometimes instead of being quiet at the plate and letting the ball come to him. Though he has the bat control to make contact when something off-speed comes his way, it's not quality contact. It's something he recognizes he needs to work on.

"I definitely need to stay back and let the ball travel," Lucroy agreed. "If I get out early it causes me to roll over some stuff instead of driving it to right-center like I used to."

The 23-year-old had a reputation as an offense-first catcher when he was drafted, but he's starting to develop into a decent defender as well. He's posted very good caught-stealing percentages as his average arm strength plays up thanks to his quick release and agility behind the plate. While his receiving and blocking are still in development, he has been improving, and he's also reportedly better at calling a game. The defensive strides are part of the reason Ash said what he did.

Salome, the other notable Brewers backstop prospect, didn't have quite the offensive season people expected, posting just a .748 OPS at Triple-A, so Lucroy needs to get a little more attention, as he could be starting by 2011. If Lucroy's power develops a little bit, which is the only uncertainty, he could be a player who hits .280 with high-teens power, which you'll certainly take at the catcher position.

[NewsCopy]

  This Saturday MLB Network is going to broadcast the AFL "Rising Stars Showcase". The game will be comprised of an East Team and a West Team, with the best players from the 2009 AFL. The Brewers sent eight players to the prestigious prospect league played every fall since 1992. Three position players: CF Lorenzo Cain, 3B Taylor Green and C Jonathan Lucroy. Also five pitchers: Zach Braddock, Josh Butler, Omar Aguilar, Mark Rogers and Rob Wooten.

Six of the eight players the Brewers sent have struggled for the most part. Two have been very, very good. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy had a line of .385/.407/.615 with 2 HR and 5 RBI and LHP Zach Braddock who has a 1.04 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 6 K's and 2 saves in 8.2 IP. You would think that those numbers would get both Lucroy and Braddock in the "Rising Stars Showcase" on Saturday. Well you would be wrong.

The rest of the story

[NewsCopy]

  #1: Jonathan Lucroy, Double-A

Prior to the season, Brewers fans debated whether Lucroy was the top catching prospect in the system.

Now, there is no question that Jonathan Lucroy has risen to the zenith. Tom Haudricourt tweeted over the weekend that a major league scout covering the AFL said Lucroy is not far away from the majors.

The UL-Lafayette product displayed fantastic plate discipline, walking 78 times compared to only 66 strikeouts. He allows the ball to travel deep into his stance before committing. This not only gives Jonathan more time to assess whether the pitch will be a strike, but it also allows him to take the ball to the opposite field, which he does quite well. He displayed that ability last Spring Training.

His power production was not where I expected it to be, but multiple reports surfaced throughout the season that Jonathan chose to focus more on his defense and game-calling abilities to begin the year. Once the second-half arrived, however, his power returned and the 23-year old turned in a fine season. A .798 OPS on a "down" offensive season is nothing to cry home about. Neither are the 32 walks and .150 ISO.

Although a bit under the radar outside the Brewers organization, Jonathan Lucroy certainly has a chance to break camp on the 25-man roster if he can continue to impress in Arizona this month.

The rest of the story

by Jim Breen

[CajunFreak]

_ _

Man that would be sweet and very deserving for Lucroy! It was so much fun watching him play...

[Ballfan]

_ _

These teams are picked by the same idiots that waited until the 3rd round to draft him... 80% of ALL pro scouts have no idea how to analyze and/or project talent

[Dad04]

_ Man that would be sweet and very deserving for Lucroy! It was so much fun watching him play... _

Watching him in Brewers games on TV won't suck either.

[BirdofParadise]

_ Watching him in Brewers games on TV won't suck either. _

yeah, that'll be enough for me to subscribe to MLB Extra Innings.

[SunGrasses]

It's pretty exciting! We still can't believe it all. We just pray that he stays healthy and that he continues to enjoy it. The Brewers GM said they are seriously considering giving him a chance next year.

The season will be over in Arizona around Nov. 20. He plans to drive back and stay in Lafayette. (...something about a little Cajun sweety...) He wants to work out while he's there, then come home for Christmas.

Ya'll might need to fatten him up while he's there. He's looking a little thin!

[CajunFreak]

I know you guy's are very proud!