Description
Drew Lugbauer is a first baseman in the Atlanta Braves organization. He is currently assigned to the Mississippi Braves, the Double A-Affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. He was drafted in the 11th Round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He attended Arlington High School in Dutchess County, New York.He was drafted in the 11th Round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He attended Arlington High School in Dutchess County, New York.
In 2014, Lugbauer was named the Dutchess County Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year for large schools. The Arlington High School senior compiled a .424 batting average, a .568 on-base percentage and a .939 slugging percentage, finishing the season with 28 hits, including eight home runs, eight doubles, a triple, 23 RBI and 26 runs scored. For his efforts, Lugbauer was named the Section 1 Conference I Most Valuable Player. He was also named to the all-state, all-selection, and all-region team, as well as being Poughkeepsie Journal’s Player of the year (2014) He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays as a catcher in the 21st round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Lugbauer opted to extend his academic and athletic endeavors at the University of Michigan.
In his junior season at Michigan, Lugbauer was named an All-Big Ten First Team selection and a 2017 Big Ten Player to Watch. He finished the season with a team-leading .518 slugging percentage and 12 home runs. He led Michigan with 38 walks and 60 RBI. He recorded a season-high four RBI against NIU on March 16th, 2017 with a grand slam. On April 7th, he hit his second grand slam of the season en route to a comeback win against Illinois. The powerful left handed slugger also tied his season-high with four RBI on two homers against Penn State on April 1st, 2017. He also scored a career-high four runs in the 15-2 victory. For his efforts, he was named Big Ten Conference Player of the Week (Apr. 3) and Perfect Game/Rawlings National Player of the Week. (Apr. 4)
In 2017, his 1st season of professional baseball with the Rome Braves and Danville Braves, Lugbauer splashed onto the scene with 13 HR in 60 games, earning the nickname “Slugbauer.” In 2019, he added 26 doubles, 16 HR’s and 51 RBI’s with the Florida Fire Frogs. In 2021 with the Mississippi Braves, Lugbauer blasted 18 HR’s and 51 RBI’s in only 300 At-Bats. The future is bright for the Atlanta Braves prospect!!!
At the completion of the 2021 MILB Season, Lugbauer participated in the Arizona Fall League as a member of the Peoria Javelinas. The Peoria Javelinas are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. The Javelinas play their home games in the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. The ballpark is also the spring training facility for the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. The Braves have had some really exciting players play in the AFL in recent years including most recently Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley.
Lugbauer was the star of the Arizona Fall League playing in 16 games and hitting .346 with 6 Home Runs and 18 RBI’s in 16 games. He also added a 1.145 OPS and .692 Slugging which was 2nd in the entire league next to Nelson Velazquez who played in 10 more games. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t even supposed to be at the AFL, taking a roster spot initially intended for Braves catching prospect Shea Langeliers (MLB No. 69), who never made it to Arizona because he was on the Braves’ postseason taxi squad for the entirety of their run.
On June 21st, 2022 Lugbauer hit his 33rd career home run as a Mississippi Brave, setting the all-time club record in the Mississippi Braves’ 5-3 win over the Montgomery Biscuits. His 33rd home run passed Travis Demeritte and Connor Lien who he tied with a home run in Rocket City on June 9th. On September 9th, 2022 Lugbauer smashed a two-run homer over the “Visit Mississippi” sign in left field, breaking the franchise single season home run record with his 27th homer in the Mississippi Braves 8-3 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers at MGM Park. He finished with 28 HR’s and surpassed Ernesto Mejia (2012) and Mike Hessman (2001). He also led the Southern League with 28 home runs and 82 RBIs. Lugbauer holds the M-Braves career home run record with 46 homers in two seasons with Mississippi.
The featured SAM Rideau Crusher Maple KB1 Baseball Bat was game used by Drew Lugbauer in 2023 Spring Training as a member of the Atlanta Braves. Lugbauer spent a good portion of Spring Training with the Braves big league club playing in 10 games. The talented slugger has signed the Bat and added “2023 Game Used” and “Go Braves!” in black. The Bat is CRACKED and shows good use. The Bat was obtained directly from Drew Lugbauer!
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