Catching Up With Zach Lutz

April 11, 2008   ·   Patrick Hickey, Jr.   ·   Jump to comments

Drafted in the fifth round of the amateur draft last season, third baseman Zach Lutz immediately became one of the most highly touted prospects in the Mets farm system. Quickly assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones, the team’s Single-A affiliate, Lutz injured his foot in the team’s first game of the season and spent the rest of the year on the disabled list. Still rehabbing from the surgery that was required to repair the hairline fracture he suffered nearly a year ago, Lutz has put on some weight and now looks like a completely different ballplayer. Chatting over the phone from Florida, Lutz spoke to Dem Brooklyn Bums about his recovery and what to expect from him in the future.

Dem Brooklyn Bums: Because of your injury, you only had two at bats all season and spent the rest of the year on the disabled list. Considering how much was expected of you, how did you feel the rest of the season?

Zach Lutz: After I got hurt, I waited around for a week before I went and had surgery. I got two screws put in my foot and I knew I was going to be out for the rest of the season. It was a tough road back, but I think I’m in better shape than I was before the injury. As of right now, I’m still doing rehab down in Florida, but I’m going to be ready to play in a few weeks.

DBB: Has the organization told you where you were going to go? Is there anywhere that you would want to go?

Lutz: They haven’t told me anything yet. I have no idea, probably Brooklyn. I’d really like to make a full-season team but it all depends on where they think I’m going to be at that time and if I’m ready.

DBB: Considering how little you played in Brooklyn, do you feel you have something to prove to the fans there?

Lutz: It was unfortunate what happened there and I do feel like I have something to prove to them, but all I can really do is concentrate on my rehab. I’ve worked really hard down here and I’m anxious to get started. I’m just really looking forward to staying healthy this season on whatever team I play on.

DBB: The Cyclones had a solid season last year, did you follow them after you officially left the team.

Lutz: Yes. I became pretty close friends with J.R. Voyles during that time. We used to talk on the phone pretty much every day and he always let me know what was going on with the team. He did a great job stepping in for me and I was happy that they had a good season.

DBB: This offseason, you’ve put on some muscle and look much bigger around your shoulders and arms. As a matter of fact, some people probably wouldn’t even recognize you. What exactly did you do this offseason, besides eating plenty of steak and potatoes?

Lutz: I was doing upper-body work four times a week and I was using the arm bike to stay in shape. When I first got injured, that was pretty much the only cardio work that I could do. I also paid very close attention to what I was eating. I wanted to make sure that I could do everything in my power to be ready this year. Over the next few weeks, we’ll see how prepared I really am and hopefully I’ll be ready to go.

DBB: Before you played your first professional game, you compared your game to David Eckstein. Considering how much you’ve changed physically over the past year, do you think that assessment still holds up?

Lutz: I don’t know. I think maybe I may be a bit of a different player now, but I still think I go out and play the game the same way as him. We both work hard and give everything we have. I just hope with everything that has happened to my foot that I can still go out there and play with that same kind of intensity. I hope everything holds up. I’m used to running wherever I go. I’m not used to being lazy.

DBB: After you were drafted, you said that you were the type of guy that would go home and hit after a game. Without a doubt, baseball seems to be a true love in your life. Being injured for as long as you were, you couldn’t do that, how did you cope?

Lutz: I still did things when I was injured. It was weird though, because I was instructed to always keep my foot elevated. I had a cast on my right foot for five months; it was really tough at times, but I had to do something. I usually went outside and put my right foot on a bucket and I would throw the ball around with my mother or father. I tried to do anything to stay active. I would go down to my old college with my father and get on my knees and take softballs. I also took four classes at school. I’m still a semester away from getting my degree. That’s very important to me, but right now my main concern is coming back healthy this season.

DBB: Did the time off take an emotional toll on you as well?

Lutz: When all of this happened, it definitely made me think about baseball and my life differently. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and you question if you have the energy to go out and perform and sometimes you take it for granted. But then, something like what happened to me can happen and it puts everything into perspective. I worked so hard and then that happened, but I’m going to let it take anything away from me. I’m dedicated to getting back to where I should be and making the most of things. This offseason I hit the gym and worked as hard as I could. I wanted to make sure that I was ready this season.

DBB: Are you confident that you can come back this season and be the player that everyone expects you to be?

Lutz: Definitely. I put on some size this offseason and my power right now is unbelievable. I’ve worked really hard on defense with the fielding instructors as well, taking grounders and working on my hand-eye coordination and all the little things I need to be sharp with. I actually feel better now than I did before the injury. I’ve put everything from last year behind me and I’m ready to see what the future holds.

Photos by Patrick Hickey Jr. and Jim Dolan