Marco Luciano SS. DOB: 9/10/2001. B-R, T-R. 6'2", 178 lbs. IFA 2018.
2022(ACL): .318/.444/.545, HR, 14.8 BB%, 25.9 K%, 27 PA.
2022(A+): .263/.339/.459, 10 HR, 9.6 BB%, 22.2 K%, 230 PA.
Luciano had a pretty good season when he played and the bat still looks elite. A lingering back issue that was recently reported to be a stress reaction is the big concern and is now almost certain to significantly slow down his progression to the major leagues. I am not an orthopedist but I looked up stress reactions of the spine. The technical name is spondylolysis, a separation of one of the two "rocker arms" that connect the vertebral bodies to posterior joint which allows forward and backward bending without the vertebrae slipping off each other's pedestals(spondylolisthesis). The stress reaction is extremely common in athletes, especially young athletes and is caused by repeated rotational stress. Long term prognosis is excellent but healing often takes 6-9 months.
I still really like Luciano's bat but there are multiple factors that seem to keep chipping away at his athleticism and ability to stay at SS. On the plus side, he doesn't turn 22 until September so if he went to college he would likely be playing in his junior season and not drafted yet, so he has plenty of time to continue his development.
PS: Just read a couple of tweets that Luciano is ramping up his hitting and taking grounders in spring training.(fingers crossed).
It's a shame for Luciano and the Giants org that he's suffered these back issues slowing down his progression to the majors. Keith Law wrote that Luciano has the upside to hit 30 hrs and hit for a 300 BA in the major leagues and become a top 5-10 player in the league playing 3rd base or OF Crossing my fingers for good health this season for Luciano!
ReplyDeleteSchmitt at SS with Luciano at 3B, or vice versa...either way, it'd be great.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, those two can platoon at those 2 positions. Now, that's versatility!!!