Former Mets INF Zach Lutz On Going From Division III To MLB

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Zach Lutz (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

In the high school class of 2004, there was perhaps no recruiting battle more intriguing than the one over Governor Mifflin Senior High School (Pa.) third baseman Zach Lutz.

In one corner stood prominent Division I programs, each with an elite reputation, state-of-the-art facilities and yearly Omaha aspirations. In the other corner stood Division III Alvernia College (now Alvernia University). The Crusaders (now Golden Wolves) had finished the 2004 season with a respectable 27-17 record, but, more importantly, they were coached by Zachâ€s father, Yogi.

“Coming out of high school, I had some interest from the University of South Carolina, from Notre Dame, from Stanford,†Lutz said. “But for me, my mind was always set on going to play for my dad. Thatâ€s what I had my trust in—he knew my swing better than anybody.â€

Lutz chose Alvernia, and as a freshman, he teamed with fellow future big leaguer Anthony Recker to lead the Crusaders to a 41-6 record. He earned two-way All-America honors, hitting .423 and carrying a 9-0 record and 3.32 ERA on the mound during his standout freshman season.

That .423 average would end up being the worst Lutz ever hit at Alvernia. He posted a .464 average as a sophomore, then “slipped” to .454 as a junior while adding 12 home runs and earning NCAA Division III Player of the Year honors. Lutzâ€s standout years of production at the plate and strong frame caught the eye of the professional ranks, and the Mets made him their fifth-round selection in the 2007 MLB Draft.

Lutz had never struggled at Alvernia. Truthfully, he hadnâ€t even experienced moments of mediocrity. As such, the jump in competition from Alvernia was apparent from the get-go at his first Mets minicamp in Port St. Lucie after signing.

“I faced some Latin kid, and he was throwing 98 mph,” Lutz said. “And afterwards, I called my dad and said, ‘Dad Iâ€ve got no shot.’ I couldnâ€t even see it.â€

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Coach Lutz calmed his son. And while he was able to quickly correct his mindset and assert himself at the plate, his main problem was not being up there nearly as much as heâ€d like.

“Most of my career was derailed by injuries,” Lutz said. “A lot of freak injuries.”

Lutz broke a bone in his foot in his first professional game, resulting in six screws in his foot. Unfortunately, it served as a sign of things to come. In his minor league career, Lutz suffered multiple concussions, injuries to his hamstring and ankle and a broken ring finger via an errant foul ball hit into the dugout.

When he could find his way on the field, however, Lutz raked. He slashed .292/.384/.544 with 29 homers in 127 games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels from 2010 to 2011. Ultimately, Lutz proved he could handle pitching in the high minors, but finding the opportunity to prove that at the big league level was more of a challenge.

“For me, especially with the Mets, I had David Wright in front of me at third base, I had Lucas Duda and Ike Davis over at first base,†Lutz said. “I knew I just needed to swing the bat. If I swung the bat, they were going to find a spot for me. And whenever I was on the field, I always hit.â€

After years of injury trouble, Lutz finally got the call to New York to fill the roster spot of an injured Jason Bay in 2012. Heâ€d appear in 22 games for the Mets from 2012-2013, struggling to break through their crowded corner infield situation.

Lutz spent the latter half of his career searching for an opportunity to hit, playing in both Japan and Korea while also fighting his injury history. He retired following the 2017 season, still able to hit, but unable to keep up with the physical day-in, day-out demands of professional baseball.

On the surface, Lutz spurning the higher ranks of college baseball for Alvernia seems like a peculiar decision. But his professional on-field results and big league service gave Lutz the satisfaction that he was built for his unique journey.

“You get drafted out of a Division III school and thrown into pro ball, itâ€s a completely different world,” Lutz said. “Youâ€ve gotta be mentally tough to get through that, and thatâ€s how it was.”

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