When Johnny Lujan first became a part of the Dynasty Family, I was thrilled to think that we got him at the perfect time. He had been log-jammed in the Chicago White Sox organization and was just picked up by the New York Mets in the Triple-A phase of the Rule-5 draft. Johnny was about to have his first child, which was a an amazing thing for his personal life, but it also set him back in Spring Training. He reported to camp late, and never got to see time on the Major League roster. He was actually slotted to play in a Major League split squad game, but the game was rained out (and it happened to be the only rained out game that day in the Grapefruit League).
We had assumed that Johnny would be starting the year with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but as Spring Training came to a close, he was instead assigned to the Double-A Binghamton Mets. The Mets organization’s bullpen impressed a lot of people during Spring Training, and unfortunately for Johnny, he would have to start the year at the same level that he ended last season. He would not be in Binghamton for long, though.
Last night, after striking out two batters and giving up no hits or walks in one inning of work, Johnny was told to pack his bags, because he was being promoted to Triple-A Buffalo. With Binghamton, Johnny had a 2.89 ERA. In 6 games and 9.1 innings, he had 2 saves, 11 strikeouts, and only 3 walks.
Binghamton’s manager, Tim Teufel, had this to say about Lujan:
“It’s a matter of stuff. I don’t care how long you’ve been in the game, if you don’t have the stuff, you’re not going to get the ball in the later innings. But (Lujan) has been one of the better pitchers out of the pen.”
Johnny becomes the third Triple-A player represented by Dynasty Athlete Representation. We wish Johnny the best in his new home and hope that he is called up to the big league sooner than later.
8 replies on “Johnny Lujan Promoted To Triple-A Buffalo”
Congrads thats awsome you have 3 AAA guys i think at some point at least 2 should be promoted this year. With the nfl draft almost concluded i was wondering if any of your or matt watkins clients got picked up or if they are likely to get UFA deals? Also, i was wondering what kind of marketing opportunities are available for a client like rulon who is on a PS, do companies still contact agents for these athletes? congrads again and thanks in advance!
Thanks. We don’t represent any football players who were draft-eligible. Speaking to Matt, he is hopefully that at least one of our guys will get picked up in the offseason. Rulon doesn’t have many marketing opportunities right now. My main goal with football is to grow on the Marketing side. We are making a push to do marketing for a 1st round pick from this year’s draft.
hey darren i looked on your client list but didnt see rand smith’s name, is he no longer being represented by dynasty as well? if he isnt consider it that your losses were cut short it looks like hes hitting under 250 this season. its tough to keep track of all the client switching that takes place in the industry haha. any update on leatherman too? looks like hes back pitching and doing well hopefully he comes back to u guys im sure he will see the light! all the best
Rand Smith is no longer a client. He’s a good kid and I wish him the best. There is a lot of client switching in the industry. A lot of the time it has nothing to do with the type of job the former agent was doing. Looks like Leatherman started the year at a lower level than where he ended last year (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=P&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=504093), but that he is pitching well.
i can see why certain players might switch alot but i guess i dont see why someone like rand would. for example, hes drafted in the 20th round, does well his first yr at a low level, but is struggling this yr at a higher level. there cant be much more that another agent could be doing for a later round pick like him than you were doing, know what i mean? if it was a 1st-5th rounder maybe someone would think another agent can get more marketing opportunities, but i mean i cant see any justification for a 20th round pick to leave an agency for someone else. do u notice this as being common, that picks outside of the top 10 rounds are switching? or is it common that after their first season alot of other agencies will come knocking on their door? thanks for the insight
Agents are interested in high picks and players who might not have been high picks, but have still made it up the organizational ladder. With Rand it was shocking, as we provides him with all the equipment he asked for, plus some extra stuff that he didn’t even request. What another agent could be doing for him at this point that we were not doing is beyond me.
amen to that! hopefully whoever wanted to steal him thought his .233 BA was worth it though! i just think its really sad that agents lose out on the investment there should be some consequence for the athlete if the agent has not engaged in fraudulent misrepresentation. i guess thats just my opinoin though. unfortunately severino is doing well at AAA its a bummer he ended up leaving you, but i think your future is bright dont let this negatively affect you!
Can’t compete with an agent who offers his brother a job and him a cell phone without us knowing about it. At least that’s the reasoning that Severino gave Pedro.