Former Baseball: standout Jonathan Lucroy brings much-needed experience to Los Angeles Angels

Stephen Hunt, The Advertiser, April 20, 2019

Feb 13, 2019; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) gets ready for batting practice during spring training at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports  (Photo: Rick Scuteri, Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jonathan Lucroy has caught over 1,100 games in the big leagues for five different teams, most recently with the Los Angeles Angels, who the UL product signed with in the offseason.

Donning the mask and chest protector for the Halos means he’s now played for 60 percent of the teams in the American League West after previously being with Texas and Oakland.

“I guess the teams here (in the division) see me a lot,” Lucroy said during a recent road trip to Texas. “Angels are one of them. I guess they were kind of valuing me, so third team in three years that’s in the AL West. Definitely something that I’m looking forward to. I’m here now and it’s exciting.”

More: UL players benefited from Lucroy’s time as a free agent

Lucroy, 32, who along with his family calls Lafayette home, is approaching the 12-year anniversary of being drafted into the big leagues after Milwaukee took him in the third round back in 2007.

After making his big-league debut with the Brewers in 2010, he’s twice been a National League All-Star and established himself as one of the game’s premiere backstops while playing for five different teams: Brewers, Rangers, Rockies, A’s and now the Angels.

And even after catching so many games in “the show,” he never forgets how integral those three seasons with the Ragin Cajuns were in his development as a catcher and a person.

“It was huge,” Lucroy recalled. “College in general for a lot of guys is a stepping stone. It’s a platform to launch to when guys aren’t ready to go to pro ball from high school. I couldn’t really imagine going to pro ball from high school. I’m really glad and thankful that I got to go to UL and experience that and kind of grow up a little bit.”

Last December, Lucroy signed with the Angels, who are in their first season without Mike Scioscia managing them since 1999. Scioscia, who led the Halos to their lone World Series title to date in 2002, stepped down after last season and was replaced by another former catcher in Brad Ausmus.