gold star for USAHOF

Jonathan Lucroy

Jonathan Lucroy had a successful career that lasted for 12 seasons. However, his best season was in 2014, when he played for the Milwaukee Brewers, the team that drafted him.

Lucroy made his debut for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 and mostly played as a catcher. He won the starting job in 2011, but it was in 2014 when he had his best year. In that season, he led the National League in doubles (53), had 176 hits, went to his first All-Star Game, and was fourth in the MVP voting. Although he made it to the All-Star Game once again in 2016, he was traded to Texas after that.

For the rest of his career, Lucroy was mostly used for depth by various teams, including Colorado, Oakland, Los Angeles (Angels), Chicago (Cubs), Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago (AL), Washington, and Atlanta.

In addition, Lucroy was part of the United States team that won the 2017 World Baseball Classic Championship. While his career might not have been enough for him to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, it was still a good one.

Jonathan Lucroy debuted in Milwaukee in 2010 as a third-round pick and quickly became known as one of the most intelligent and skilled catchers in the league. Although he started as a dependable contact hitter, he was especially renowned for his defensive skills, particularly in pitch framing, which made him the cornerstone of the Brewers' pitching staff.

After securing his starting job in 2010, Lucroy reached a peak of efficiency during the historic 2011 season, leading a pitching staff with five starters hitting double digits. He demonstrated complete control behind the plate, but his bat began to set him apart. By 2012, he was batting .320, becoming a key part of a lineup with multiple MVPs.

During the 2014 season, he authored a remarkable campaign, leading the National League with 53 doubles and establishing a new Major League Baseball record for the most doubles in a single season by a primary catcher (46). He was a consistent presence at the All-Star festivities, including serving as a starter in the Midsummer Classic, and completed a historic fourth-place finish in the National League MVP voting. His contributions were equally significant defensively, where he registered a 2.0 Defensive bWAR and received the Fielding Bible Award, solidifying his reputation as the premier dual-threat catcher in the senior circuit.

With the organization pivoting toward a rebuild, the Brewers finalized a trade that sent Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a package of prospects, including Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz. With Milwaukee, Lucroy had 806 Hits, batted .284, and belted 79 Home Runs.