Marco José Luciano (born September 10, 2001) is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He signed with the Giants as an international free agent in 2018, and made his MLB debut in 2023.
| Marco Luciano | |
|---|---|
.png) Luciano with Leones del Escogido in 2023 | |
| San Francisco Giants – No. 37 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: September 10, 2001 San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 26, 2023, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .217 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 3 |
| Teams | |
| |
Early life
editMarco José Luciano was born on September 10, 2001, in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic.
Professional career
editMinor leagues
editLuciano was ranked as one of the top international prospects in his class. He signed with the San Francisco Giants in July 2018 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic for a signing bonus of $2.6 million when he was 16 years old.[1][2][3][4] He underwent hernia surgery the following month.[1]
He made his professional debut with the Arizona League Giants in 2019. Luciano led the league with 46 runs and batted .322/.438/.616 in 178 at bats, with 10 home runs (third in the league), 38 RBIs (4th), and 27 walks (7th).[5][6][7] He ended the season as the youngest position player (age 17) in the Northwest League.[8] He was named an ACL post-season All Star, a Baseball America Rookie All Star, and an MiLB Organization All Star.[1]
Luciano did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Luciano started 2021 with the San Jose Giants (Low-A).[9][10] In June, Luciano was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.[11] In August, Luciano was promoted to the Eugene Emeralds (High-A).[12][13]
In 2021, Luciano hit .258/.344/.471 in 453 plate appearances with 19 home runs and 71 RBIs.[14] He was named a CAL post-season All Star, and an MiLB Organization All Star.[1] He was selected to participate in the 2021 Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions, where he was the youngest player in the league.[15][16]
In 2022 he played for Giants Black and Eugene. Luciano hit .269/.350/.467 in 227 at bats, with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs.[17] He missed half the season with a lower back injury.[18][19] He was ranked # 1 in the Giants 2022 MLB Prospect Rankings.[20] On November 15, 2022, the Giants added Luciano to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[21]
Luciano was optioned to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels to begin the 2023 season.[22] In 56 games, he batted .228/.339/.451 with 11 home runs, 32 RBI, and 6 stolen bases. On July 18, 2023, Luciano was promoted to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats.[23]
San Francisco Giants (2023–present)
editAfter only 6 games in Sacramento, the Giants promoted Luciano to the major leagues for the first time.[24]
Luciano was optioned to Triple–A Sacramento to begin the 2024 season after Nick Ahmed won the starting shortstop job out of spring training.[25]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Marco Luciano Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
- ^ "Giants agree with No. 2 int'l prospect Luciano". MLB.com.
- ^ "Power-hitting teenager Marco Luciano gives San Francisco Giants a reason to dream". June 27, 2019.
- ^ "For Giants, Luciano was love at first sight". MLB.com.
- ^ "2019 Arizona League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Comparing Giants prospect Luciano to seven-time All-Star". NBCS Bay Area. July 6, 2019.
- ^ "Giants star 17-year-old prospect Luciano praised by Zaidi". NBCS Bay Area. June 22, 2019.
- ^ "Giants Top Prospects". MLB.com.
- ^ "Future face of the franchise? Marco Luciano pursues his Giants destiny". July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Luciano 'far better' than SJ Giants manager has ever coached".
- ^ "Future Giants Marco Luciano, Heliot Ramos on display in MLB's talent showcase". July 11, 2021.
- ^ Crowley, Kerry (August 4, 2021). "SF Giants top prospect Marco Luciano earns a promotion". mercurynews.com. The Mercury News. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ "Getting a glimpse at Giants top prospect Marco Luciano in his High-A debut".
- ^ "Marco Luciano Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Here are the Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Klopfer, Brady (October 22, 2021). "AFL weekly round-up". McCovey Chronicles.
- ^ "Marco Luciano Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Zaidi reveals where Luciano, Harrison ideally will begin 2023". RSN.
- ^ Delucchi, Marc. "SF Giants top prospect Marco Luciano promoted to Double-A". Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More.
- ^ "Giants Top Prospects". MLB.com.
- ^ "SF Giants protect Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and several other prospects from Rule 5 Draft". si.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ "Giants' Marco Luciano: Optioned to minors". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ Murphy, Bryan (July 18, 2023). "Marco Luciano promoted to Triple-A Sacramento". McCovey Chronicles. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Axisa, Mike (July 26, 2023). "Giants call up top prospect Marco Luciano after short stint in Triple-A". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Adams, Steve (March 28, 2024). "Giants Option Marco Luciano, Select Nick Ahmed, Release Pablo Sandoval". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)