Luke Prokopec
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Luke Prokopec is an Australia
n-born, right-handed pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
and Toronto Blue Jays
.
While with the Dodgers in 2000 and 2001, the tandem of Prokopec and fellow Australian Jeff Williams gained considerable popularity in the Los Angeles
area. However, the attention was short lived, as both moved on to other franchises. Prokopec was traded to Toronto on December 13, 2001 along with Chad Ricketts in exchange for Cesar Izturis
and Paul Quantrill
. During a successful season Prokopec was injured by a Labral Tear. Prokopec was later acquired by the Cincinnati Reds under the Rule 5 Draft. Further Labral problems prevented his return to the Major Leagues, forcing an early retirement from professional baseball as a player.
Prokopec is presently playing in his native Australia
and is now the head baseball coach for the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane, Australia.
, an 82-86 MPH slider
, an 81-83 MPH changeup
, and a 75-77 MPH curveball
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born, right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played in 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...
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.
While with the Dodgers in 2000 and 2001, the tandem of Prokopec and fellow Australian Jeff Williams gained considerable popularity in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area. However, the attention was short lived, as both moved on to other franchises. Prokopec was traded to Toronto on December 13, 2001 along with Chad Ricketts in exchange for Cesar Izturis
César Izturis
César David Izturis is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent. He is the half-brother of shortstop Maicer Izturis, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Julio Izturis, who plays in the minor leagues in the San Francisco Giants organization.Izturis' greatest...
and Paul Quantrill
Paul Quantrill
Paul John Quantrill is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He earned a reputation for being very durable and having impeccable control. He regularly appeared in 80 or more games a season and did not walk more than 25 batters in a season since...
. During a successful season Prokopec was injured by a Labral Tear. Prokopec was later acquired by the Cincinnati Reds under the Rule 5 Draft. Further Labral problems prevented his return to the Major Leagues, forcing an early retirement from professional baseball as a player.
Prokopec is presently playing in his native Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and is now the head baseball coach for the Queensland Academy of Sport in Brisbane, Australia.
Pitching Style
Prokopec threw an 88-96 MPH four-seam fastballFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
, an 82-86 MPH slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, an 81-83 MPH changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, and a 75-77 MPH curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
.