Lucas Sims
Lucas Sims | |
---|---|
Cincinnati Reds – No. 39 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. | May 10, 1994|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 1, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves | |
MLB statistics (through June 16, 2024) | |
Win–loss record | 22–16 |
Earned run average | 4.49 |
Strikeouts | 331 |
Teams | |
|
Lucas Sundberg Sims (born May 10, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Atlanta Braves.
Career[edit]
Atlanta Braves[edit]
Sims was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, 21st overall, out of Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia.[1][2] He signed with the Braves, receiving a $1.65 million signing bonus.[3]
During his first professional season he pitched for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Braves and Danville Braves. He finished 2–4 with a 3.71 earned run average with 39 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.
Sims played the 2013 season with the Class-A Rome Braves. He started the season in the bullpen but was then moved to the rotation.[4][5] He finished the season 12–4 with a 2.62 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 116+2⁄3 innings. In 2013, Sims was considered the Braves best prospect according to MLB.com.[6]
In 2014 he was 8–11 with a 4.20 ERA in Class A+.[7] He had fallen to third on the same list by the start of the 2015 season,[8] and was placed seventh on the year-end list.[9] Between three teams, he was 7–6 with a 4.37 ERA. The Braves sent Sims to the Arizona Fall League in 2015. He opened the AFL season for the Peoria Javelinas,[10] and also started the Fall Stars Game.[11]
Sims started 2016 as the Braves # 13 prospect according to Baseball America, and was invited to spring training for the first time.[12][13] He began the season with the Mississippi Braves,[14] and was promoted to Gwinnett on April 23.[15] He struggled in the International League and returned to Mississippi on June 17.[16] Sims finished 2016 with a 7–11 record and a 4.40 ERA; his 92 walks were the fourth-highest total in the minor leagues, and more than the total of any major leaguer.[17][18][19] The Braves added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[20]
Sims faced the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 1, 2017, in his major league debut. He pitched six innings, yielding three earned runs and recording three strikeouts.[21] The debuts of Sims and Ozzie Albies marked the first time since 1968 that the Atlanta Braves started two players making their first major league appearance on the same day.[22] He finished the season 3–6, with a 5.62 ERA. In December 2017, Braves manager Brian Snitker said that he might look at Max Fried, Sims, or another pitcher as the team's fifth starter in 2018.[23] Sims spent time with the major league team in spring training, but began the 2018 season in Gwinnett.[24]
Cincinnati Reds[edit]
On July 30, 2018, the Braves traded Sims, Matt Wisler, and Preston Tucker to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Adam Duvall.[25][26] He made three appearances for Cincinnati in 2018, spending the majority of his time with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.
Sims started his first game as a Red on May 28, 2019, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[27] In 2019, he made 24 appearances for Cincinnati, posting a 2–1 record and 4.60 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 43.0 innings pitched. In 2020, Sims went 3–0 with a 2.45 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 25+2⁄3 innings over 20 games in relief. In 2021, he went 5–3 with a 4.40 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 47 innings.
In 2022, Sims appeared in 9 games for the Reds, struggling to a 9.45 ERA with 5 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.[28] He was originally placed on the injured list with a back injury on May 12, 2022,[29] then transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 17.[30] On July 2, Sims underwent season-ending surgery to address a herniated disc in his back.[28][31] He returned from the injury in April 2023.[32]
Personal[edit]
Sims and his wife, Dani, married in 2017.[33]
References[edit]
- ^ "Braves stick with local strategy for first pick". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ Carroll Rogers (June 4, 2012). "Brookwood's Sims "ecstatic" to be drafted by Braves in first round – updated". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ Carroll Rogers (June 7, 2012). "Braves sign Sims to $1.65 million bonus | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ^ "Bullpen work aiding Braves prospect Sims". Mlb.mlb.com. April 17, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ "Braves prospect Sims matures quickly". Gwinnettdailypost.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ "2013 Prospect Watch Atlanta Braves". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
- ^ Lucas Sims Stats | Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Wild, Danny (May 15, 2015). "Six Mudcats on DL following bus accident". MILB.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (September 1, 2015). "Sims among Braves prospects headed to Fall League". MLB.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (October 27, 2015). "Braves in AFL: Sims grows following difficult season". MLB.com. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Pleskoff, Bernie (November 23, 2015). "Scouting profile: Lucas Sims". Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ Lucas Sims Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com
- ^ Bowman, Mark (February 12, 2016). "Braves have spring in their step on Truck Day". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
- ^ "Hot starts among Braves' farmhands". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (April 23, 2016). "Braves add lefty Marksberry to 'pen, option Kelly". MLB.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ "Ellis promoted to Gwinnett, Sims back to Mississippi". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ Baseball America 2017 Prospect Handbook Digital Edition: Rankings and ... - Google Books
- ^ "Lucas Sims Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ What will the Atlanta Braves rotation look like on opening day? - Talking Chop
- ^ "Braves add 3 prospects to 40-man roster". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ^ Thompson, Jaylon; Sachs, Aimee (August 2, 2017). "Sims' solid debut, Camargo's HR can't stop LA". MLB.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ Burns, Gabriel (August 2, 2017). "Five years later, Lucas Sims debuts with his hometown Braves". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "Order the Braves’ 2018 starting rotation," Atlanta Journal Constitution.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (March 24, 2018). "Braves option Sims, Blair, Wisler to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
- ^ Burns, Gabriel (July 30, 2018). "Braves acquire Adam Duvall for trio of players". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ Kelly, Matt (July 30, 2018). "Braves acquire former All-Star Duvall from Reds". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Cincinnati Reds will call up Lucas Sims to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday".
- ^ a b Nightengale, Bobby (July 1, 2022). "Cincinnati Reds reliever Lucas Sims to miss remainder of 2022 season due to back injury". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ "Overton gets 1st win, Reds beat Pirates 4-0 for 1st shutout". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Nightengale, Bobby (June 17, 2022). "Max Schrock returns to Cincinnati Reds, Tony Santillan placed on injured list". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Sheldon, Mark (February 18, 2023). "Sims on recovery: 'Back to feeling like a ballplayer'". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Goldsmith, Charlie (April 17, 2023). "Lucas Sims set to return Wednesday to the Reds bullpen". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ "Lucas Sims on Instagram: "To my better half, happy 3rd anniversary. Can't believe it's been 3 years already! Life is the best with you by my side. I love you!!! ❤️ 📸 @melissaschollaert"".
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- 1994 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Baseball players from Gwinnett County, Georgia
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Atlanta Braves players
- Cincinnati Reds players
- Gulf Coast Braves players
- Danville Braves players
- Rome Braves players
- Lynchburg Hillcats players
- Carolina Mudcats players
- Mississippi Braves players
- Peoria Javelinas players
- Gwinnett Braves players
- Gwinnett Stripers players
- Louisville Bats players