SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Trinity University pitcher Ryan Lucero became the latest Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) student-athlete selected in the Major League Baseball Draft when he was drafted by the TEAM & NICKNAME in the ROUND NUMBER on DAY. Exclusive Ryan Lucero Post-Draft Interview
Lucero, a senior left-hander, was named the 2013 SCAC Pitcher-of-the-Year after compiling a 10-1 record with a sparkling 1.98 ERA. He struck out no fewer than four in each of his 13 starts during the season and averaged 8.78 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
He led the SCAC in wins (10), strikeouts (80) and opponents' batting average (.209) while ranking in the top five in earned run average (1.98 – 2nd), innings pitched (82.0 – 3rd), and complete games (4 – 4th).
Lucero is a two-time D3baseball.com All-American (2012-2013) and 2013 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-American (2013). His Pitcher-of-the-Year honor marks the third consecutive year a Trinity pitcher has been named the league's top hurler (Ben Klimesh won in 2011 and 2012) and the eighth time overall.
Lucero tallied a remarkable 29-3 career record in 36 starts for the Tigers from 2010-2013 while striking out 239 batters in 260 innings pitched (8.27 strikeouts per nine innings pitched). He tossed eight complete games, five of which went for shutouts, and posted a 1.14 WHIP (walks+Hits/innings pitched).
He becomes the fifth Trinity player to be chosen in the MLB draft since the Tigers joined the SCAC in 1989. Lucero joins Trinity baseball alumni Jason Armstrong (2004), Nick Vera (2007), Evan Bronson (2008-2009) and Ben Klimesh (2012) as MLB draft selections.
In addition to the above accolades, Lucero was an All-SCAC first-team selection and was named to the SCAC All-Tournament team. He was also honored as the SCAC Pitcher of the Week twice during the regular season.
To listen to the SCAC's exclusive post-draft interview with Ryan Lucero, click here.
| SCAC Major Leaue Baseball Draft Picks (Since 1987) | ||||
| Player | School | Round | Team | Year |
| Peter Austin | Millsaps | 40th (#1202 overall) | Pittsburgh | 1997 |
| Matt Blanton | Hendrix | 23rd (#695 overall) | St. Louis | 2003 |
| Jason Armstrong | Trinity (Texas) | 25th (#747 overall) | Toronto | 2004 |
| Garner Wetzel | Millsaps | 10th (#297 overall) | Colorado | 2005 |
| Garner Wetzel | Millsaps | 18th (#543 overall) | San Diego | 2006 |
| Nick Vera | Trinity (Texas) | 32nd (#981 overall) | St. Louis | 2007 |
| Evan Bronson | Trinity (Texas) | 36th (#1,088 overall) | Milwaukee | 2008 |
| Evan Bronson | Trinity (Texas) | 29th (#862 overall) | Washington | 2009 |
| Daniel Sarisky | Oglethorpe | 40th (#1,211 overall) | Houston | 2009 |
| Drew Leachman | Birmingham-Southern | 37th (#1,138 overall) | Minnesota | 2011 |
| Bruce Maxwell | Birmingham-Southern | 2nd (#62 overall) | Oakland | 2012 |
| Ben Klimesh | Trinity (Texas) | 15th (#472 overall) | Cincinnati | 2012 |
