Donald Lutz

Donald Lutz
First baseman/Outfielder
Born:(1989-02-06)February 6, 1989 Watertown, New York,U.S.
Batted:Left Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 29, 2013, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
September 24, 2014, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Batting average	.211
Home runs	1
Runs batted in	9
Teams
Cincinnati Reds(2013–2014)

Donald Thomas Lutz III(born February 6, 1989) is an American-Germanformerprofessional baseballfirst baseman/leftfielder.He signed with the Reds as a non-drafted amateur free agent in 2007. Despite starting his baseball career in his teenage years, and in Germany, Lutz first visited Cincinnati's spring training camp, reached Class AA and was placed on theReds40-man roster in 2012.

Lutz was the first German-developed player to play in the modern Major Leagues.He played for Team Germany in the2019 European Baseball Championship,in which they came in 6th.

Playing career

Lutz was still a baby when his family moved to Germany. He had his first experience with the sport at 14, when his older brother (Sascha Lutz,who became a baseball player in the German leagues) took him to a training session of the Friedberg Braves, a team located inFriedberg (Hessen).Since then, Lutz has rapidly increased his skills, especially his powerful hitting that made him so successful. After two years with the local team, he went to the Bad Homburg Hornets and played there for two seasons before he went to a baseball boarding school in Regensburg for one more season.

Cincinnati Reds

Within another few years, he became a member of theGermany national baseball teamand traveled to Europe-wide training camps, which finally led to his signing with theCincinnati Redson July 15, 2007.

Lutz played his first two seasons for the formerGulf Coast Leagueaffiliate of the Reds. In those seasons he played 50 games and achieved a.250 BA with one home run and 19 RBIs in the first season, while only scoring a.169 BA, 10 RBIs and no home runs the following year. In his third season Lutz remained in the Rookie level but was transferred to theBillings Mustangsfrom thePioneer League,where he had a.286 BA as well as 7 home runs and 28 RBIs.

After an impressive 2011 season for the single-ADayton Dragonswith a.301 BA and 20 home runs and the team's firstcycle,Lutz was promoted to the Reds 40-man roster in 2012 and participated in 15 Spring training games. Only a few days beforeopening dayhe was dropped from the active roster and sent to advanced-A affiliateBakersfield Blaze.There he played a not less impressive season than the one before. Until mid-July he made 63 appearances and batted a massive 17 home runs and 51 RBIs. After being promoted to double-APensacola Blue WahoosLutz continued with nearly the same statistics. Although playing in the Arizona Fall League and a second spring training with the Reds, Lutz started the 2013 season in Pensacola but remained on the 40-man roster.

The Reds promoted Lutz to the Major Leagues on April 29, 2013.On May 5, 2013, againstShawn Campof theChicago Cubs,Lutz got his first MLB hit when he lined a ball into center field. Lutz also went on to score that inning, and registered an RBI and stolen base later in the same game. Lutz hit his first career home run on May 12, 2013, a three-run homer off Brewers pitcherWily Peralta.He was sent back down to Pensacola on June 25, 2013.

On April 21, 2014, he hit for the first cycle in Blue Wahoos franchise history in a 17–1 win against theJacksonville Suns.

On May 1, 2015, it was announced Lutz would undergoTommy John surgeryand would be out for the season. He was released on June 3, 2015.

Bravos De Leon

On March 30, 2017, Lutz signed with theBravos de Leónof theMexican Baseball League.He was released on April 12, 2017.

Kansas City T-Bones

On May 4, 2017, Lutz signed with theKansas City T-Bonesof theAmerican Association.He was released on May 17, 2017.

Brisbane Bandits

Lutz commenced his comeback from injury with theBrisbane Banditsin theABLfor the2015-16 season,where his 3/7 in the2016 Australian Baseball League postseasonled to him being named Championship Series MVP and helping the Bandits to their first league championship.

The following season, he played in a more limited capacity trying to break back into affiliated baseball from injuries, but still hit.323/.405/.600 across 19 games through the middle of the2016-17 season.

Lutz rejoined the Bandits full-time for the2017-18 Australian Baseball League seasonwhere he broke the single season homerun record with teammate T. J. Bennett with 16. The Bandits went on to win their third consecutive ABL title.

Following the conclusion of the 2017–18 season, he announced his retirement as a player, and later signed on as the new hitting coach of theArizona League Redsfor the 2018 season.

On September 6, 2018, Lutz came out of retirement to play again for Brisbane in the2018-19 Australian Baseball League season.He had a relatively lean season, slashing.186/.312/.310, but was key in Brisbane's postseason run, going 4/10 with three homeruns to help the Bandits to their fourth successive championship.

Coaching career

As of 2019,Lutz was the hitting coach for theArizona League Reds.

Lutz is now the hitting coach for the Brisbane Bandits.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors)