Description
Drew Lugbauer is a first baseman in the Oakland A’s organization. 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.
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.
In 2023, Lugbauer posted an .898 OPS with 25 home runs and 73 RBI over 96 games in Atlanta’s minor-league system, finishing up at Triple-A Gwinnett. He could get his first taste of MLB action at some point during the 2024 campaign given the A’s glaring need for power production.
The featured Force3 Pro Gear Leg Guards were game worn by Drew Lugbauer in 2018 as a member of the Rome Braves. The Rome Braves (In 2024, they became Rome Emperors) are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They are located in Rome, Georgia, and play their home games at AdventHealth Stadium. From 2003 to 2023, the team was known as the Rome Braves. In 2018, Lugbauer caught 65 games, playing in 114 Games total with the Braves and hit 12 HR’s and knocked in 46 RBI’s. The Slugger has signed the Leg Guards and added “Game Worn M-Braves ALL Time HR Leader” in black. The Leg Guards show good use!
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