Joey Lucchesi

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #9 prospect in 2018
  Lucchesi led all of Division I in strikeouts as a senior in 2016 at Southeast Missouri State and signed with the Padres for $100,000 as a fourth-round pick. The funky 6-foot-5 lefty dominated both high Class A and Double-A in his first full season, leading the organization in ERA (2.20) and finishing second in strikeouts (148). Lucchesi has a potent mix of deception and stuff. His unique windup features multiple stops and starts, unconventional hand positioning, a high leg kick and a slight turn to hide the ball. While hitters are simply trying to find the ball or time him up, he delivers the ball over the top and throws three above-average pitches for strikes. His fastball works 90-94 mph and is a swing-and-miss pitch with its location and downhill angle. His above-average 77-80 mph curveball features a hard, late drop and his 80-82 mph changeup looks like a breaking ball out of his hand before staying straight and drawing foolish swings. Lucchesi is athletic enough to repeat his complicated delivery, resulting in above-average command and control and a lot of called strikes. He is confident and self-assured on the mound. He also has one of the nastiest pickoff moves in the minors. Lucchesi's No. 4 starter projection is a safe one he may surpass. Triple-A El Paso awaits in 2018.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #24 prospect in 2017
  Lucchesi went undrafted after his junior season at Southeast Missouri State but added a tick to his fastball velocity as a senior to sit 91-94 mph with deception and late movement. He went 10-5, 2.19 and led all of Division I in with 149 strikeouts as a senior and became the highest player ever drafted out of SEMO, signing for $100,000. Lucchesi continued to show his improved stuff in pro ball, with his fastball velocity holding steady and peaking at 96. He complemented it with an above-average curveball with 12-to-6 action and an above-average changeup, all with plus command that led to an astounding 56-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his pro debut. Lucchesi's stuff plays up with a funky delivery that includes a high leg kick and a pause mid-windup, not dissimilar from Clayton Kershaw. His delivery also makes baserunners freeze and allows him to hold them close. Lucchesi's dominant showing came as a 23-year-old playing against younger competition, giving some evaluators pause. Still, with three usable pitches and plus control, Lucchesi fits the profile of a solid back-end starter. He will start 2017 at low Class A Fort Wayne with a chance to move quickly.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #231 prospect in 2016 draft
  Lucchesi pitches his way into consideration as a priority senior sign after he added a tick to his fastball this season. The lefty sits at 91-93 and touches 94 mph now with an above-average fastball. The fastball sets up his downer curveball that he can manipulate depending on the count--he'll sweep it more to keep it in the zone, then he'll bury it later in counts for strikeouts. It's an average offering as well and his fringe-average changeup shows excellent late action at times. He knows how to use his stuff as well; Lucchesi was leading the nation in strikeouts with 149 headed into regional play.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #16 prospect in 2017
  Some lefties rely on deception. Others rely on stuff. Lucchesi has the potent mix of both. With a funky but athletic delivery that features multiple stops and starts, Lucchesi made it nearly impossible for hitters to time him. That deception, combined with a 90-94 mph fastball, an upper-70s curveball with hard downward bite and a low-80s changeup he can cut, made Lucchesi one of the Cal League's most effective starters before a promotion to Double-A. "We couldn't hit the damn guy," Rancho Cucamonga manager Drew Saylor said. "There's a tremendous amount of deception. It's just a very funky (arm) stroke and the way the pitch characteristics are, it's not something you see every day." Lucchesi pitches with a chip on his shoulder and is aggressive in the zone, further endearing him to evaluators. He also shuts down running games with one of the best pickoff moves in the minors. More advanced hitters may not be as fooled by Lucchesi's delivery, but he has the stuff, control and mentality to be a quality back-end starter anyway.
• 
  Ranked Texas League #15 prospect in 2017
  The oldest pitcher to make this list, Lucchesi also was one of the top TL performers in 2017. Promoted to San Antonio at the beginning of July, he made 10 appearances (nine starts) and ended his time in the league with a 1.79 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .208 opponent average. Possessing one of the quirkiest deliveries in the minors, Lucchesi has a deceptive 90-93 mph fastball, which is paired with a loopy, potentially plus curveball and a late-moving changeup that helped him to strike out 148 in 139 innings. He held lefthanded batters to a .129 average.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #11 prospect in 2016
  A Northern California prep product, Lucchesi played two years at Chabot (Calif.) JC and two more at Southeast Missouri State, where in 2016 he led the country in strikeouts with 149 in 111 innings. The Padres handled him carefully at Tri-City, and he never threw more than four innings. Lucchesi's success stems from both deception in his delivery and command of three average to above-average pitches. His fastball sits in the low 90s and touched 96 mph. He can change the shape on his downer curveball, and his changeup also has earned above-average grades. All three pitches come out of the same slot, lending him command that helped him strike out 11.9 per nine innings in the NWL. Because Lucchesi is 23, the Padres will probably push him in 2017.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Lucchesi led Division I in strikeouts as a senior in 2016 at Southeast Missouri State and signed with the Padres for $100,000 as a fourth-round pick. The funky 6-foot-5 lefty dominated both high Class A and Double-A in his first full season, leading the organization in ERA (2.20) and finishing second in strikeouts (148). Scouting Report: Lucchesi has a potent mix of deception and stuff. His unique windup features multiple stops and starts, unconventional hand positioning, a high leg kick and a slight turn to hide the ball. He delivers the ball over the top and throws three above-average pitches for strikes. His fastball works 90-94 mph and is a swing-and-miss pitch with its location and downhill angle. His above-average 77-80 mph curveball features a hard, late drop and his 80-82 mph changeup looks like a breaking ball out of his hand before staying straight and drawing foolish swings. Lucchesi is athletic enough to repeat his complicated delivery, resulting in above-average command and control and a lot of called strikes. He also has one of the nastiest pickoff moves in the minors. The Future: Lucchesi's No. 4 starter projection is a safe one he may surpass. Triple-A El Paso awaits in 2018.