A former Milwaukee Brewers reliever is in the headlines as MLB Insider Jeff Passan pointed out both the team and players that have been among the best trade-deadline performers this year.  Specifically Passan was talking about the Kansas City Royals in which they acquired former Brewers farm hand Lucas Erceg in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

Lucas Erceg was a former second round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Out of Menlo, Colorado Lucas Erceg was once a highly regarded hitting prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.  His career as a hitter never panned out and in 2021 he dabbled as a two-way player, in 2022 transitioned to a full time pitcher, and in 2023 he was in the big leagues as a reliever.  His successful conversion from a position player to a pitcher also comes with an incredible story of him becoming sober from alcohol.

Transaction history of Lucas Erceg from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Oakland Athletics to the Kansas City Royals.

In 2023 the Brewers traded Lucas Erceg to the Oakland Athletics for cash.  Erceg had no clear path to the big leagues with Milwaukee but he immediately got an opportunity in Oakland and made his MLB debut in May of that year.  He posted a 4.75 ERA in 2023 across 55.0 innings pitched and a 3.68 ERA in 2024 (36.2 inning pitched) before being traded to the Kansas City Royals.  The Royals gave up three prospects in RHP Will Klein, RHP Mason Barnett and OF Jared Dickey in order to acquire Erceg.

Lucas Erceg has been one of the top performers following this year’s trade deadline. 

With the Kansas City Royals Lucas Erceg has not surrendered a run across 10.1 innings pitched and nine appearances.  He has struck out 14 batters during this span, has allowed just four hits, and has not walked a batter.  The Royals are in contention for a post-season spot so Erceg will play a big role in the outcome of their 2024 season.

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