So far so good for Hinckley outfielder climbing the ladder in minor leagues

by Sheldon Ocker

Luke Raley has been a minor-leaguer for three seasons. So he gets it. That is, he understands that baseball is a game, but at the professional level, it’s a business.

That point was indelibly tattooed on his brain when he was sent from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Minnesota Twins less than an hour before the July 31 trading deadline.

“He was surprised,” said Beth Raley, his mother. “It was tough to leave all the people he has known, but he looked at it as an opportunity. It was a shock, though.

“I was at work. A friend texted me and asked, ‘Is it true?’ I don’t even know if Luke knew then. He was walking on the field and got a call from a player development guy.”

Baseball has been a family affair for the Raleys, who own Raley’s Tree Farms in Hinckley. Luke’s father, Douglas, played at Cuyahoga Community College and Cleveland State. Luke graduated from Highland High School and attended Division II Lake Erie College in Painesville, just like his older brother, Brad.

The brothers played together at college in 2014 and 2015 until Brad, a pitcher, hurt his shoulder. Luke, an outfielder, set school records for a season in hitting (.424), on-base percentage (.528), slugging percentage (.747) and home runs (12).

After that 2016 season, Luke was selected in the seventh round of the draft by the Dodgers, becoming the highest pick ever for a Lake Erie College player.

“It was exciting and nerve wracking at the same time,” Luke said, recalling the day he was picked. “Calls from teams came not long before I was picked asking me how much I would take for a signing bonus. Everything happened so fast.”

The Dodgers offered $150,000, according to Beth, who thought it was a little low (relative to his draft position) but good enough.

It had to be a little deflating when the TV host reporting on the draft said he had no information on Luke.
“The announcer said, ‘Does anybody know this guy?’” said Beth. “They knew nothing. Actually, it was pretty funny.”

Bottom line: Luke was that rare athlete who made it to pro ball. “I didn’t care which team picked me,” he said. “I was excited no matter what.”

Luke, 23, is in his first season at the Double-A level. He began 2018 with Tulsa of the Texas League and batted .275 with 17 doubles and 17 home runs in 93 games. In his first 10 games after the trade, with Double-A Chattanooga of the Southern League, he batted .314 with one double and one home run.

He is listed as one of the Twins’ top 10 prospects.

An indication of his competitiveness is the frequency he is hit by pitches. This season Luke has been struck 22 times, which means he takes his stance inches from the plate or he is intentionally getting in the way of 90-plus mph fastballs.

“It’s a little of both,” Luke said. “I’ve been doing it since I was 14. I take it as a way to get on base and help my team score. Absolutely, there’s a technique to it.”

Asked about what he considers his biggest asset, Luke said, “I think it’s my mental side. I’m able to keep my head on straight and stay in the game.”

 

Featured image photo caption: Hinckley native Luke Raley is listed as one of the Minnesota Twins’ top 10 prospects. Photo courtesy Beth Raley