Elvis Enmanuel Luciano (born February 15, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Toronto Blue Jays, and was the first player born in the 2000s to appear in an MLB game and record a win.
| Elvis Luciano | |
|---|---|
| Yomiuri Giants – No. 035 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 15, 2000 Boca Chica, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| March 31, 2019, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics (through 2019 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 1–0 |
| Earned run average | 5.35 |
| Strikeouts | 27 |
| Teams | |
Professional career
editArizona Diamondbacks
editLuciano was signed as an international free agent on October 1, 2016, by the Arizona Diamondbacks.[1] He split this debut season of 2017 between the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks and AZL Diamondbacks, and the Rookie Advanced Missoula Osprey. He posted a combined 4–1 record with a 2.84 ERA in 662⁄3 innings over 16 games (8 starts).[1] Luciano opened the 2018 season in extended spring training.
Kansas City Royals
editOn June 6, 2018, the Arizona Diamondbacks traded Luciano and Gabe Speier to the Kansas City Royals for Jon Jay.[2] He played for the Rookie Advanced Idaho Falls Chukars and Burlington Royals in 2018, combining to go 10–10 with a 3.90 ERA in 134 innings over 26 games (24 starts).[1]
Toronto Blue Jays
editThe Blue Jays selected Luciano from the Royals organization in the 2018 Rule 5 draft. He was eligible because his first professional contract had been voided due to a medical issue.[3] Luciano made the Blue Jays' 2019 Opening Day roster,[4] becoming the first active major league player born in the 2000s.[5] On March 31, Luciano made his major league debut at 19 years and 44 days old, throwing 11⁄3 scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers. In doing so he became the youngest pitcher to appear in a game for the Blue Jays, as well as the youngest player to appear in a game during the 2019 MLB season.[6][7]
On April 28, 2019, Luciano earned his first major league win after recording the final out of the top of the 11th inning before the Blue Jays walked off the Oakland Athletics 5–4.[8] On June 12, 2019, Luciano went on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow sprain. On June 17, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list. He was activated from the injured list on September 12. Luciano did not make an appearance for the Blue Jays in 2020.
Luciano made 11 starts for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, going 0-1 with a 3.41 ERA and 33 strikeouts. On August 23, 2021, Luciano was released by the Blue Jays,[9] and resigned to a new minor league contract on August 30.[10]
In 2022, Luciano pitched only three innings over two starts for the Fisher Cats before being shut down for the rest of the season due to a stress fracture in his pitching arm.[11] He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[12]
Yomiuri Giants
editOn January 24, 2023, Luciano signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Elvis Luciano". mlb.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Torres, Maria (June 6, 2018). "Royals trade Jon Jay to Arizona for two minor-league pitchers". kansascity.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Chisholm, Gregor (December 13, 2018). "In surprise move, Blue Jays take teen in Rule 5". mlb.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Davidi, Shi (March 26, 2019). "Thornton to start season in rotation as Blue Jays roster takes shape". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- ^ Adler, David (March 28, 2019). "Baseball says goodbye, literally, to 20th century". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2019.
- ^ Ashbourne, Nick (April 1, 2019). "Blue Jays teen Elvis Luciano shows promise in MLB debut". Yahoo Sports. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "Youngest MLB Player To Appear In A Game In 2019". StatMuse. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Pollard, Dave (April 28, 2019). "Drury, Smoak cap Jays' 11th-inning comeback over A's". National Post. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 8/23/21". August 23, 2021.
- ^ "Blue Jays Sign Gregory Polanco to Minor League Deal". August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Blue Jays' Elvis Luciano: Shut down with stress fracture". May 10, 2022.
- ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ "Yomiuri firma al prospecto dominicano Elvis Luciano". beisboljapones.com (in Spanish). January 24, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Elvis Luciano on Instagram