Brewers Sign Catcher Lucroy to Contract Extension
By: Nick Goddard
Updated: March 27, 2012
PHOENIX
(Milwaukee Brewers) - The Milwaukee Brewers today signed catcherJonathan
Lucroy
to a five-year contract with a club option for 2017. The announcement
was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.
"We are pleased that Jonathan has agreed
to this extension," said Melvin. "His work ethic and continued
development and growth at the Major League level made us feel good about
engaging into this extension. Catching is such an important position
to a team's success, and Jonathan has grasped the
challenges. We project him to improve and become one of the better
catchers in the league."
Lucroy, 25, batted .265 with 12 HR and 59
RBI in 136 games in 2011, which marked his first full season in the
Major Leagues. He made 114 starts, all behind the plate. The team
posted a 3.63 ERA when he caught and went 68-46 when he started. He
produced 56 RBI as a catcher last season, which ranked
fourth in the National League from that position.
Lucroy has gotten off to a tremendous start
in 2012, batting .469 (15-for-32) with 1 HR and 6 RBI in 13 games this spring.
The Brewers now have five home-grown core players currently
under multi-year contracts. In addition to Lucroy (signed through
2016), the team has reigning National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Braun
(2020), pitcher Yovani Gallardo (2014), second
baseman Rickie Weeks (2014) and outfielder
Corey Hart (2013) all signed at least through
the next two seasons.
