The Milwaukee Brewers, as the smallest market in Major League Baseball, rely on drafting and developing prospects in order to compete. Over the last several years, this has worked out incredibly well. Jackson Chourio is a legitimate star in the making while Sal Frelick and Brice Turang each took home a Gold Glove Award for their defensive prowess in 2024.
Recent Brewers legends like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder were also drafted and developed by the Brewers during an era that led to newfound excitement and competitiveness in Milwaukee.
But for all of the prospects that do work out and make in the Majors, there are even more that do not. For a while, it looked like Lucas Erceg was going to be one of those that failed to recognize his potential.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Prospect Lucas Erceg Struggled for a Long Time
Erceg was originally drafted by the Brewers in the second round of the 2016 amateur draft. A power-hitting third baseman, he made a strong first impression on the organization by hitting .327/.376/.518 in his first professional season. However, his batting numbers started to decline each season.
In 2021, he hit just .221/.270/.379 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 50 games with Milwaukee’s Double-A affiliate.
Something needed to change.
First, Erceg faced his battle with alcoholism and depression head on and got help. This was the most important step in what would result in him realizing his Major League ambitions.
Second, he converted from being a position player to being a pitcher.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Pitcher Lucas Erceg Is Predicted to Make His First All-Star Team
After toiling in Triple-A for a few years and not seeing the results he and the organization wanted, Erceg had his contract purchased by the Oakland Athletics. He made his Major League debut for the team in 2023, going 4-4 in 50 appearances with a 4.75 ERA.
In 2024, Erceg was traded mid-season to the Kansas City Royals, with whom he was 0-3 with a 2.88 ERA and 11 saves.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report believes that Erceg will be able to use this solid late-season run with Kansas City, and now entrenched as their closer, to make his first All-Star team in 2025:
“Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers as a power-hitting third baseman in 2016, Lucas Erceg moved to the mound in 2021 and broke through as a surprise late-inning arm for the Athletics in 2023.
“The 29-year-old pitched well enough to emerge as a sought-after trade chip last summer, and the Kansas City Royals acquired him and his remaining club control through 2029 at the trade deadline in exchange for a trio of prospects.
“He moved into the closer’s role with the Royals and posted a 2.88 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 31-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 25 innings following the trade, nailing down 11 of 13 save opportunities.”
The above excerpt is from an article in which Reuter lists 16 players that he thinks could make their first All-Star team next season. Former Brewers shortstop Willy Adames and current Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio also made the list.
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