Lucas Sims

Lucas Sims
Sims with the Gwinnett Braves in 2016
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-05-10) May 10, 1994 (age 30)
Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 1, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record22–19
Earned run average4.50
Strikeouts353
Teams

Lucas Sundberg Sims (born May 10, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox.

Career

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Atlanta Braves

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Sims was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, 21st overall, out of Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia.[1][2] He signed with the Braves, receiving a $1.65 million signing bonus.[3]

During his first professional season he pitched for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Braves and Danville Braves. He finished 2–4 with a 3.71 earned run average with 39 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.

Sims played the 2013 season with the Single–A Rome Braves. He started the season in the bullpen but was then moved to the rotation.[4][5] He finished the season 12–4 with a 2.62 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 116+2⁄3 innings. In 2013, Sims was considered the Braves best prospect according to MLB.com.[6]

In 2014 he was 8–11 with a 4.20 ERA for the High–A Lynchburg Hillcats.[7] He had fallen to third on the same list by the start of the 2015 season,[8] and was placed seventh on the year-end list.[9] Between three teams, he was 7–6 with a 4.37 ERA. The Braves sent Sims to the Arizona Fall League in 2015. He opened the AFL season for the Peoria Javelinas,[10] and also started the Fall Stars Game.[11]

Sims started 2016 as the Braves # 13 prospect according to Baseball America, and was invited to spring training for the first time.[12][13] He began the season with the Mississippi Braves,[14] and was promoted to Gwinnett on April 23.[15] He struggled in the International League and returned to Mississippi on June 17.[16] Sims finished 2016 with a 7–11 record and a 4.40 ERA; his 92 walks were the fourth-highest total in the minor leagues, and more than the total of any major leaguer.[17][18][19] The Braves added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[20]

Sims faced the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 1, 2017, in his major league debut. He pitched six innings, yielding three earned runs and recording three strikeouts.[21] The debuts of Sims and Ozzie Albies marked the first time since 1968 that the Atlanta Braves started two players making their first major league appearance on the same day.[22] He finished the season 3–6, with a 5.62 ERA. In December 2017, Braves manager Brian Snitker said that he might look at Max Fried, Sims, or another pitcher as the team's fifth starter in 2018.[23] Sims spent time with the major league team in spring training, but began the 2018 season in Gwinnett.[24]

Cincinnati Reds

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On July 30, 2018, the Braves traded Sims, Matt Wisler, and Preston Tucker to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Adam Duvall.[25][26] He made three appearances for Cincinnati in 2018, spending the majority of his time with the Triple-A Louisville Bats.

Sims started his first game as a Red on May 28, 2019, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.[27] In 2019, he made 24 appearances for Cincinnati, posting a 2–1 record and 4.60 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. In 2020, Sims went 3–0 with a 2.45 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 25+2⁄3 innings over 20 games in relief. In 2021, he went 5–3 with a 4.40 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 47 innings.

Sims earned some notoriety for his actions during a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in April 2021. The umpires let the game continue despite rain which would normally be enough to cause a delay. Sims couldn't get a proper grip on the wet ball, and finally forced the issue, asking home plate umpire Jerry Meals for a new baseball, and then another, and another, and another, saying each was too wet to use. Meals finally gave in and called a rain delay.[28]

In 2022, Sims appeared in 9 games for the Reds, struggling to a 9.45 ERA with 5 strikeouts in 6+2⁄3 innings pitched.[29] He was originally placed on the injured list with a back injury on May 12, 2022,[30] then transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 17.[31] On July 2, Sims underwent season-ending surgery to address a herniated disc in his back.[29][32] He returned from the injury in April 2023.[33] In 67 appearances out of the bullpen, Sims compiled a 7–3 record and 3.10 ERA with 72 strikeouts across 61 innings pitched.[34]

Sims made 43 appearances for Cincinnati, recording a 3.57 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 35+1⁄3 innings of work.[35]

Boston Red Sox

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On July 30, 2024, the Reds traded Sims to the Boston Red Sox, in exchange for minor league pitcher Ovis Portes.[36]

Personal

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Sims and his wife, Dani, married in 2017.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Braves stick with local strategy for first pick". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  2. ^ Carroll Rogers (June 4, 2012). "Brookwood's Sims "ecstatic" to be drafted by Braves in first round – updated". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  3. ^ Carroll Rogers (June 7, 2012). "Braves sign Sims to $1.65 million bonus | Atlanta Braves". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  4. ^ "Bullpen work aiding Braves prospect Sims". Mlb.mlb.com. April 17, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  5. ^ "Braves prospect Sims matures quickly". Gwinnettdailypost.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "2013 Prospect Watch Atlanta Braves". MLB.com. May 24, 2013. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  7. ^ Lucas Sims Stats | Baseball-Reference.com
  8. ^ Wild, Danny (May 15, 2015). "Six Mudcats on DL following bus accident". MILB.com. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  9. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 1, 2015). "Sims among Braves prospects headed to Fall League". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  10. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (October 27, 2015). "Braves in AFL: Sims grows following difficult season". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  11. ^ Pleskoff, Bernie (November 23, 2015). "Scouting profile: Lucas Sims". Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  12. ^ Lucas Sims Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com
  13. ^ Bowman, Mark (February 12, 2016). "Braves have spring in their step on Truck Day". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Hot starts among Braves' farmhands". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. April 11, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Bowman, Mark (April 23, 2016). "Braves add lefty Marksberry to 'pen, option Kelly". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  16. ^ "Ellis promoted to Gwinnett, Sims back to Mississippi". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  17. ^ Baseball America 2017 Prospect Handbook Digital Edition: Rankings and ... - Google Books
  18. ^ "Lucas Sims Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  19. ^ What will the Atlanta Braves rotation look like on opening day? - Talking Chop
  20. ^ "Braves add 3 prospects to 40-man roster". Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  21. ^ Thompson, Jaylon; Sachs, Aimee (August 2, 2017). "Sims' solid debut, Camargo's HR can't stop LA". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  22. ^ Burns, Gabriel (August 2, 2017). "Five years later, Lucas Sims debuts with his hometown Braves". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  23. ^ "Order the Braves’ 2018 starting rotation," Atlanta Journal Constitution.
  24. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 24, 2018). "Braves option Sims, Blair, Wisler to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  25. ^ Burns, Gabriel (July 30, 2018). "Braves acquire Adam Duvall for trio of players". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  26. ^ Kelly, Matt (July 30, 2018). "Braves acquire former All-Star Duvall from Reds". MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  27. ^ "Cincinnati Reds will call up Lucas Sims to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday".
  28. ^ https://www.audacy.com/sports/mlb/reds-lucas-sims-explains-stalling-for-delay-safety-issues [bare URL]
  29. ^ a b Nightengale, Bobby (July 1, 2022). "Cincinnati Reds reliever Lucas Sims to miss remainder of 2022 season due to back injury". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  30. ^ "Overton gets 1st win, Reds beat Pirates 4-0 for 1st shutout". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  31. ^ Nightengale, Bobby (June 17, 2022). "Max Schrock returns to Cincinnati Reds, Tony Santillan placed on injured list". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  32. ^ Sheldon, Mark (February 18, 2023). "Sims on recovery: 'Back to feeling like a ballplayer'". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  33. ^ Goldsmith, Charlie (April 17, 2023). "Lucas Sims set to return Wednesday to the Reds bullpen". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  34. ^ "Lucas Sims - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  35. ^ "Red Sox acquire veteran relieve Lucas Sims from Reds". espn.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  36. ^ McCaffrey, Jen; Rosecrans, C. Trent. "Red Sox acquire reliever Lucas Sims from Reds for prospect". The New York Times.
  37. ^ "Lucas Sims on Instagram: "To my better half, happy 3rd anniversary. Can't believe it's been 3 years already! Life is the best with you by my side. I love you!!! ❤️ 📸 @melissaschollaert"".
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