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Redhawks in Major League Baseball

from 2021 SEMO Baseball Guide

by Southeast Missouri Redhawks

from 2021 SEMO Baseball Guide, page 124

Draft Picks

REDHAWK BASEBALL

Ten Southeast Missouri players have gone on to play Major League Baseball.

Left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi is presently the only former SEMO player on an active MLB roster.

Lucchesi was a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

A native of Newark, California, Lucchesi made his Major League debut on Mar. 30, 2018 at Petco Park against the Milwaukee Brewers. He started the game and worked 4.2 innings. Lucchesi did not receive a decision.

In three-seasons with the Padres, Lucchesi started 58 games and holds a career record of 18-19 with a 4.14 ERA and 303 strikeouts in 293.2 innings.

On January 19, 2021, Lucchesi was traded to the New York Mets and will head to spring training with his new club.

Former Redhawk reliever Shae Simmons was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 22nd round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

Simmons was invited to spring training with the Braves in 2014. He was called up to the major leagues for the first time on May 30, 2014. A day later, Simmons made his MLB debut striking out the only hitter he faced against the Miami Marlins.

Simmons was expected to enter the 2015 season competing for the primary setup role to closer Craig Kimbrel, but received unfortunate news when an MRI revealed a tear in the Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) of his throwing elbow, causing him to miss that entire season. Simmons underwent successful Tommy John surgery and began pitching again in May 2016.

On January 11, 2017, Simmons was traded to the Seattle Mariners and later signed a oneyear contract with the Chicago Cubs on February 14, 2018. He was placed on waivers on June 26, 2016 and was outrighted on June 27, but rather than accept the assignment, he chose free agency.

SEMO has had a total of 30 players drafted since 1966. Lucchesi is the highest draft pick out of the Redhawks baseball program when he went in the fourth round in 2016.

Left-handed pitcher Galen McSpadden and first baseman Matt Tellor are SEMO’s other two Top-10 draft picks. McSpadden was a sixth-round selection by the Padres in 1974 and Tellor was a 10th-round pick by the Braves in 2014.