Published: July 23, 2008 11:10 pm      

Luck learning lots in Princeton

PRINCETON — Prior to the Princeton Rays’ game against the Greeneville Astros Tuesday night, Chris Luck sat in his locker, playing cards with his fellow pitchers while waiting for game time. In this particular game, luck was not on his side.

But luck has been on Luck’s side. The young right-hander had no idea he would be playing professional baseball for a living or that he would be just a few steps away from the Major Leagues.

Originally from Raleigh, N.C., Luck became known for his fielding skills. It was not until late in his high-school career that he was converted into a hurler.

“My senior year (in high school) I went to a pitcher and catcher showcase,” Luck said. “I was more of a shortstop, infielder kind of guy. I pitched off the mound and I threw pretty good and ever since then they were looking at me.”

He was drafted in the 20th round by the Tampa Bay organization last year. It was something that seemed beyond his wildest dreams.

“When you come from a small town like I was, I never thought about it,” Luck said. “And then when it comes into it, you’re happy that you can do it and you end up doing it.”

When Luck joined the Devil Rays organization, he had to adjust to the style and speed of play as well as the fact that most of the players he would be facing were as good as him.

“It was a lot different,” Luck said. “The hitters here are a lot different than hitters in high school. The surroundings, the fans, everything’s a whole lot different than high-school baseball. It’s a lot of fun.”

So far, Luck has had luck. He is currently 3-0 with a 3.77 earned run average and 14 strikeouts to just three walks.

He is acquiring a wealth of knowledge while he is in Princeton. He learned that his position is far more complex than it looks to the naked eye.

“I’m not a thrower anymore. I’m a pitcher,” Luck said. “I’m just learning location and how to throw my pitches and stuff like that.”

He credits his teacher, pitching coach Marty DeMerritt, for helping instill in him the knowledge he now uses on a daily basis.

“You see me out there. I’ve learned it from him,” Luck said. “He changed me from day one and ever since then I’ve been doing his thing. He’s taught me everything.”

Luck said the most important thing DeMerritt taught him was, “Keeping the ball down, that’s his motto and that’s what we all try to do is keep the ball down. It’s harder for a hitter to hit a ball down than up.”

Luck stated that he began playing baseball at the age of six or seven at the behest of his father.

“He saw me throwing one day and just playing around and he said, ‘Let’s play baseball,’” Luck said. “For him to sit out there and do what he did and play, I did what he wanted me to.”

His father may have encouraged him to play baseball. But he actually had his eye on success in another arena.

“I was more of a basketball player,” Luck said. “I loved playing basketball and that was my love, I guess you could say.

“My 10th grade year in high school, that’s probably when I started doing a lot more towards baseball. My dad told me I had a life in baseball and not in basketball.”

Luck favorably compared Princeton to Raleigh. He noted their relative sizes and friendly nature of the people.

“I actually like Princeton,” Luck said. “(It’s) a small town just like where I’m from. Everybody knows each other. But that’s just where I’ve been brought up.

“You see the same people every single day. That’s what makes it fun ‘cause everybody comes to the games and supports everybody. That’s what makes it fun.”

Luck’s teammates also make the experience for him.

“Everybody’s good. Everybody’s fun to be around,” Luck said. “You can’t ask for any better than that.”

When not playing or practicing, Luck hangs out with his teammates, primarily his fellow pitchers. After any given game, they will go out and share a meal together to unwind.

“We do that every night,” Luck said. “It’s more like the pitchers hang out with the pitchers and position players hang out with the position players. We all hang out at the same time.”

They also like to spend some of their free time hitting a ball instead of throwing it.

“Play golf. That’s what we do,” Luck said. “We wake up in the morning, relaxed, and hit some golf balls.”

Like every other player on Princeton’s roster, Luck harbors a dream of making it to the majors. But he is focused on the daily process and not on his luck running out.

Luck just hopes he can, “Get better every day. Just do something to get better at something every day. That’s all I want.”

—Contact Jed Lockett

at jlockett@bdtonline.com