Lucas Duda
Encyclopedia
Lucas Christopher Duda is an American professional baseball player. He currently is a right fielder for the New York Mets
of Major League Baseball
. Duda bats left handed and throws right handed.
on February 3, 1986. He attended Arlington High School
in Riverside, California
. Duda then enrolled in the University of Southern California
, playing for the USC Trojans baseball team from 2005—2007. Duda played 143 games for the Trojans, hitting 11 home run
s, 81 runs batted in
, with a .275 batting average
.
, 243rd overall.
In 2010, Duda began the season at the AA level Binghamton Mets
, and was promoted to the AAA Buffalo Bisons
on June 14. While in Buffalo, Duda homered in five consecutive games, tying a Bisons record. In 70 games for Buffalo, Duda hit 17 home runs, 2 triple
s, 23 double
s, had 53 runs batted in, while hitting to a .314 batting average. At the end of the season, the Bisons named him their Most Valuable Player
.
On August 31, 2010, the Mets announced that Duda would be added to the Major League roster as part of their September call-ups. 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. He went hitless in three at bats, but made a "stellar sliding catch" in the outfield. 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. On September 17, 2010, again batting against Hanson, Duda hit his first career major-league home run.
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
.
The Mets named Duda their Sterling Organizational Player of the Year in 2010.
On April 10, 2011, Duda was optioned to the AAA Buffalo Bisons
.
On August 8, 2011, batting in the cleanup spot for the first time in his major league career, also picked up his first walk-off hit of his major league career, with a two-run single off of Padres
closer and former Mets reliever Heath Bell
. The Mets won the game 9-8.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
of 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...
. Duda bats left handed and throws right handed.
Early life
Duda was born in Fontana, CaliforniaFontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
on February 3, 1986. He attended Arlington High School
Arlington High School (Riverside, California)
Arlington High School is a public high school in Riverside, California, United States.-History:Founded in 1973, Arlington is one of 5 comprehensive high schools in Riverside Unified School District...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. Duda then enrolled in the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, playing for the USC Trojans baseball team from 2005—2007. Duda played 143 games for the Trojans, hitting 11 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 81 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, with a .275 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Baseball career
Duda was drafted by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
, 243rd overall.
In 2010, Duda began the season at the AA level Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
, and was promoted to the AAA Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
on June 14. While in Buffalo, Duda homered in five consecutive games, tying a Bisons record. In 70 games for Buffalo, Duda hit 17 home runs, 2 triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s, 23 double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s, had 53 runs batted in, while hitting to a .314 batting average. At the end of the season, the Bisons named him their Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
.
On August 31, 2010, the Mets announced that Duda would be added to the Major League roster as part of their September call-ups. Duda made his Major League debut on September 1, against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, facing starting pitcher Tommy Hanson
Tommy Hanson
Thomas J "Tommy" Hanson is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Hanson was considered by Baseball America to be the top prospect in the Braves farm system going into the 2009 season...
, whom he played against in high school. He went hitless in three at bats, but made a "stellar sliding catch" in the outfield. 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. On September 17, 2010, again batting against Hanson, Duda hit his first career major-league home run.
Former Mets manager Jerry Manuel
Jerry Manuel
Jerry Manuel , nicknamed "The Sage" is a former major league manager. He previously managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 2003 and the New York Mets from the middle of 2008 to 2010 and played in the majors for parts of five seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s.-Playing career:Manuel played...
watched Duda during batting practice when he was first called up to the Majors and noted that Duda reminded him of Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
or Moisés Alou
Moisés Alou
Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
.
The Mets named Duda their Sterling Organizational Player of the Year in 2010.
On April 10, 2011, Duda was optioned to the AAA Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
.
On August 8, 2011, batting in the cleanup spot for the first time in his major league career, also picked up his first walk-off hit of his major league career, with a two-run single off of Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
closer and former Mets reliever Heath Bell
Heath Bell
Heath Justin Bell is an American professional baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. After taking over the San Diego Padres closer role from Trevor Hoffman in 2009, Bell was named a three-time All-Star and has been awarded with the Rolaids Relief Man Award twice and has also won the DHL...
. The Mets won the game 9-8.