Lucas Erceg

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Lucas Erceg
Kansas City Royals – No. 60
Pitcher
Born: (1995-05-01) May 1, 1995 (age 30)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 19, 2023, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Win–loss record14–14
Earned run average3.54
Strikeouts188
Saves16
Teams

Lucas Stijepan Erceg (born May 1, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics, with whom he made his MLB debut in 2023.

Early life and amateur career

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Erceg grew up in Campbell, California. When he was a child, his mother had a drinking problem and his father was abusive.[1] He attended Westmont High School in Campbell, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 and 2015 and played college baseball as a pitcher and third baseman for the California Golden Bears. He was named first team All-Pac-12 Conference in 2015. Prior to the 2016 season, he was ruled academically ineligible[2][3] after he had started drinking heavily and stopped attending classes. He transferred to Menlo College.[1][4]

Professional career

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Milwaukee Brewers

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After one year at Menlo, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Erceg in the second round, with the 46th overall pick, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He made his professional debut with the Helena Brewers of the Rookie-level Pioneer League and was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Single–A Midwest League after hitting .400 over 26 games.[6][7] Erceg finished his first professional season with a .327 batting average, nine home runs and 51 runs batted in (RBI) in 68 total games between both teams. In 2017, he played for the Carolina Mudcats of the High–A Carolina League where he batted .256 with 15 home runs and 81 RBI in 127 games along with playing in three games for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League at the end of the season.[8]

MLB.com ranked Erceg as Milwaukee's fourth ranked prospect going into the 2018 season.[9] He spent the 2018 season with the Biloxi Shuckers of the Double–A Southern League,[10] batting .248 with 13 home runs and 51 RBI in 123 games.[11] He spent 2019 with the San Antonio Missions of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League,[12] slashing .218/.305/.398 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI over 116 games. Erceg did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

In 2021, Erceg began to focus more of his effort on pitching, along with still playing third base.[14] Playing exclusively for Double-A Biloxi, he played in 50 games as a hitter, he slashed .223/.270/.379 with 3 home runs, 12 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. In 22 games (13 starts) as a pitcher, Erceg logged a 2-6 record and 5.29 earned run average (ERA) with 45 strikeouts in 47+2⁄3 innings pitched.[15]

Erceg split the 2022 season between Biloxi and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, pitching in 49 games and registering a 3-4 record and 4.55 ERA with 69 strikeouts and 2 saves in 61+1⁄3 innings of work.[16] Erceg was assigned to Triple–A Nashville to begin the 2023 season, where he made 13 appearances and struggled to a 6.46 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 15+1⁄3 innings pitched.[17]

Oakland Athletics

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On May 17, 2023, Erceg was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for cash considerations.[18] On May 19, Erceg was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[19] He made his MLB debut that night versus the Houston Astros, allowing one run over one inning and recording one strikeout.[20] In his rookie campaign, Erceg made 50 appearances out of the bullpen, compiling a 4–4 record and 4.75 ERA with 68 strikeouts across 55 innings pitched.[21]

Erceg made 38 appearances for Oakland in 2024, recording a 3.68 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 3 saves across 36+2⁄3 innings of work.[22]

Kansas City Royals

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On July 30, 2024, the Athletics traded Erceg to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Mason Barnett, Will Klein, and Jared Dickey.[23]

Personal life

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Erceg's father is from Croatia.[24] Erceg developed a drinking problem while at Cal which caused him to flunk out and experience suicidal thoughts. In June 2020, his girlfriend, Emma, who he had met at Menlo College, threatened to leave him unless he stopped drinking. He quit cold turkey without a treatment program and, as of August 2025, has been sober since.[1] Erceg's first day of sobriety, June 10, 2020, is sewn onto his baseball glove.[25] Erceg and Emma were engaged in July 2021 and married the following year.[4][1] In late June 2025, the couple announced they were expecting their first child.[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Passan, Jeff (August 21, 2025). "'I'm living proof': How Lucas Erceg is using his sobriety journey to inspire others". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  2. ^ Froberg, Tim (July 30, 2016). "Rattlers' Erceg had unique journey to pro ball". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  3. ^ Lee, Maddie (May 9, 2016). "Former Cal baseball player keeps draft dreams alive". SFGate. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ^ a b McCalvy, Adam. "'Dark, dark spaces': Former top prospect Erceg battles back from depression". MLB.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  5. ^ Collingwood, Ryan (June 23, 2016). "Erceg thankful after college career derailed". Independent Record. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  6. ^ Rosiak, Todd (July 19, 2016). "Lucas Erceg promoted to low Class A Wisconsin". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  7. ^ Rosiak, Todd (July 27, 2016). "Brewers prospect Lucas Erceg rises quickly". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  8. ^ "Lucas Erceg Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  9. ^ Rosenbaum, Mike (February 22, 2018). "Hiura headlines new-look Brewers Top 30 Prospects list". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  10. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (April 8, 2018). "Shuckers' Erceg collects three more hits". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Lucas Erceg Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Ford, Brad (April 8, 2019). "Milwaukee Brewers Daily Prospect Report: Sunday, April 7". Brew Crew Ball. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Brewers' Lucas Erceg: Attempting two-way conversion". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. RotoWire. April 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Rosiak, Todd (April 2, 2022). "'Second-round pick and I'm still grinding': From the hot corner to the mound, Brewers prospect Lucas Erceg still has a rocket arm". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Brewers' Lucas Erceg: Nabs major-league camp invite". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. RotoWire. October 25, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  17. ^ "Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Traded to A's". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. RotoWire. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "A's Acquire RHP Lucas Erceg from Milwaukee Brewers for Cash Considerations". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Promoted to big leagues". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. RotoWire. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  20. ^ Rakes, Jeremy (May 19, 2023). "Erceg makes MLB debut with childhood team". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Willis, Kris (December 1, 2023). "2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lucas Erceg". Athletics Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Grathoff, Pete (July 31, 2024). "Trade to Royals just one big life event in day filled with them for new KC pitcher". Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  23. ^ Rogers, Anne (July 31, 2024). "'Chance to strike': Royals acquire reliever Erceg, infielder DeJong". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  24. ^ Slusser, Susan (May 2, 2024). "A's stellar setup man Lucas Erceg enjoying a sensational second act". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  25. ^ Rogers, Anne (October 6, 2024). "06/10/2020: A date etched in Erceg's glove, heart". MLB.com. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  26. ^ Gutierrez, Lisa (July 1, 2025). "Curveball: Another baby coming from Royals' bullpen, Lucas Erceg & wife announce". Kansas City Star. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
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