Former Centenary Gent Wins First Start For Padres

The San Diego Padres are 2-2 on this early season. One of those wins has been credited to Shreveport-Bossier star Seth Lugo. The pitcher was credited with a win in the team's 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on April 2nd.

Lugo joined the Padres starting rotation after spending the last 7 years with the New York Mets. During his time with the Mets, he was a star coming out of the bullpen. In just under 500 innings pitched in his Mets career, he had a 3.48 ERA, 16 saves, 32 wins, and 508 strikeouts. Over one strikeout per inning from the bullpen isn't bad.

This offseason, Lugo wanted to make a move to the starting rotation. An opportunity that was available across the country in San Diego. Where after his first start, it looks like things might work out.

That first win for Lugo came after 7 innings pitched, giving up 4 hits, one earned run, and getting 7 strikeouts. Building off from a spring training where he threw 23.1 innings with a 2.70 ERA and 17 strikeouts.

Before San Diego it was New York, and before New York it was Centenary College in Shreveport. Lugo was selected in the 34th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the New York Mets from Centenary College. He pitched for the Gents after his high school career at Parkway High School in Bossier City.

At Parkway, he lettered in four sports; baseball, football, soccer, and track. He was All-District twice in baseball, District MVP in soccer twice, and an Academic All-State in football. Needless to say, he was a star before he headed to Centenary.

Even though his Centenary record wasn't stellar, he showed enough promise for the Mets to bring him into the franchise. From there, as you can see above, things have worked out for sure.

Lugo is expected to be a part of the Padres rotation all season, and if he keeps dealing like he did in his first start, the move to the rotation will look like a brilliant one.