New York Yankees Player Profiles: Luke Voit, hoping for productive year!

New York Yankees, Luke Voit
Feb 24, 2019; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Luke Voit (45) is congratulated by left fielder Tyler Wade (14) as he hits a 3-run home run during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Luke Voit set to make his mark with the Yankees

Luke Voit is a 29-year-old first baseman for the New York Yankees. Luke has had a relatively unremarkable baseball career, but how he got to the Yankees and what he has done while here, is an interesting story.

Luke was born in Wildwood, Missouri and attended Lafayette High School there.
In high school, he played football as a fullback and middle linebacker. He also played baseball where he got a lot of experience. In his first three years, he played first base and third base. Interestingly in his senior year, he played catcher. Shoulder injuries while in high school ended any career he may have had in football.

Voit makes his professional debut

After his senior year at Lafayette, he was selected in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cards. He made his professional debut with the State College Spikes of class A, New York/Penn League. That year he batted .242 with 2 home runs and 16 RBI’s in 46 games played. Throughout his minor league career, he was always on the edge of being good. In June of 2017, the Cards promoted him to the bigs. In July of 2017, after 114 at-bats, he hit his first home run. He ended the season with a batting average of .246 with four home runs and 18 RBI’s, still unremarkable but good enough to be used in a trade by the Cards to get players they needed.

Voit becomes a New York Yankee

In July of 2018, the Cards traded Voit to the Yankees along with bonus pool money so they could get pitcher Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos. The Yanks assigned him to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yanks swiftly promoted him to the majors in part to play first in the absence of Greg Bird, but after batting .188 in five games demoted him back to Scranton. After playing better in the minors and the injury to Didi Gregorius, he was again called up to the stadium.

This time something happened, he seemed to embrace the limelight and energy of New York. Playing for Greg Bird, he soon had hit ten home runs, and after hitting .458, he was named MLB player of the week on October 1st. He ended the season hitting .333 with 14 home runs and 33 RBI’s in just 39 games. In the 2018 Wild Card game, he hit a two-run triple to help the Yanks win 7-2. That triple seemed to have given Luke a place as a Yankee favorite.

During spring training last year, he, with Bird back playing, competed for playing first base when the season started. Since then, with Bird again on the IL and his play at 1st and better hitting than Bird, it is almost solidified that he would be our 1st baseman. On April 29th of lasts year, he was named AL Player of the Week hitting .433 with 13 hits, four home runs, and 10 RBI’s in the previous week.

Voit makes two stops on the IL

Last season Luke ended up playing in just 118 games, he suffered two injury list visits both with core muscle injuries.  His first time off the field was during the London Red Sox matchup when he suffered an abdominal strain.  After getting back on the field in just weeks, he suffered a sports hernia that kept him out until August.  In the offseason, he visited a specialist, and he has provided Luke Voit with a concrete reason why his body bothered him during the season and resulted in postseason surgery.  He was informed he had several tears done there.  He underwent some minor surgery and is ready for the new season, whenever it starts.

Luke finished the last season, hitting .263 with an OPS of .842.  In just 118 games, he hit an impressive 21 home runs, which translates to about 30 home runs for a typical season.  In the shortened spring training season, he hit one home run in ten games while maintaining a .267 batting average.  Luke is hoping for a big season at first base while remaining healthy.

Luke’s personals

Since I last reported on Lukie’s love life, he has married his longtime girlfriend, Victoria Rigman.  Luke was engaged to Rigman in 2017, and the pair were married in a fairy tale wedding in December of 2018.  They continue to flaunt their love for each other on social media and often attend sporting events together.  Luke has a  younger brother John who played defensive tackle with the Army Black Knights football team. Luke works out regularly and continues to challenge himself to be the best he can be. Luke is hoping he can remain healthy and productive and help the New York Yankees to a 28th World Championship.