The Gateway Grizzlies are pleased to announce the signing of right-handed pitcher Josh Lucas for the upcoming 2023 season. A veteran of 13 professional seasons, he has previously pitched in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Baltimore Orioles, making him the first-ever former MLB player to sign with the organization.
Originally from Lakeland, Florida, Lucas was selected in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB Draft by St. Louis out of junior college, and pitched seven seasons in the Cardinals organization. Along the way to the major leagues, he was named a Texas League midseason All-Star at Double-A Springfield in 2016, and posted an 8-1 record, 17 saves, and a 3.15 ERA in 60 innings at Triple-A Memphis in 2017. That performance earned him a call-up to the Cardinals, where he made his MLB debut on August 19, 2017 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, logging two innings of relief, and fanning Pirates catcher John Jaso for his first big-league strikeout.
Following four more appearances with the Cardinals as well as a stint in the prestigious Arizona Fall League that offseason, Lucas was traded to the Oakland Athletics where he made eight appearances for the big-league club covering 14 1/3 innings, while also posting a 2.56 ERA in 38 2/3 innings at Triple-A Nashville in 2018. From there, the 6’6” hurler moved on to the Baltimore Orioles organization, where he appeared in nine more major league games while also splitting time at Triple-A Norfolk.
Overall, Lucas has pitched to a 5.54 ERA in 22 career MLB games, striking out 37 batters in 37 1/3 innings. Over the course of 317 professional appearances, the right-hander has struck out 508 batters in 556 innings with a 4.00 ERA overall, including 113 appearances at the Triple-A level. Last season, he pitched for the Winnipeg Goldeyes and Cleburne Railroaders in the American Association, finishing with a 4.58 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 96 1/3 total innings.
“The addition of Josh Lucas to our pitching staff provides us with significant depth and excitement,” Grizzlies manager Steve Brook said. “Josh is a professional through-and-through. His leadership both on and off the field will be a huge asset to the Grizzlies organization in 2023. I’m excited that our club can provide him with a pivotal step on his journey back to the big leagues.”
Jason Guerette is the Grizzlies' Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations and the "Voice of the Grizzlies." 2023 will be his second season with the organization, handling lead broadcasting duties on the Grizzlies Media Network as well as being in charge of all team press releases and game-day media materials.
2023 will also be Jason's ninth season in the Frontier League after spending 2014-21 in the same role with the Southern Illinois Miners. Overall, he has broadcasted close to 800 games in the league, including playoffs. During the baseball offseason, he serves as a play-by-play broadcaster for Manhattan College and the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with games being seen on ESPN+ among other platforms.
In addition to broadcasting, Jason works as a public address announcer for Seton Hall University women's basketball as well as Columbia University men's and women's basketball. He also spent nine years working "behind the scenes" as a freelance board operator and highlight editor at Westwood One for their coverage of the NFL, NCAA football, and NCAA basketball.
Jason graduated from Seton Hall in 2012 with B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in Broadcasting & Visual Media.
