Get your “Magic Hats” ready folks, because #23, Donald Lutz is back with the Blue and Yellow! The latest Viticon Player Announcement.
“Lutzy” is a perennial fan-favorite with his dynamic personality, amazing glove-work and powerful bat. Okay, let’s face it, except for opposing pitchers, we all just come to see him hit big flys.
Born in Watertown, New York, Lutz moved to Germany as an infant and discovered that he was good at sports early on. Switching from ice hockey to baseball at the rather late age of 14, he quickly developed into a premier right-handed throwing, left-handed batting, power hitter. Within a few years he found himself playing for the Germany National Baseball Team. This led to MLB’s Cincinnati Reds signing him on July 15, 2007.
While playing with the single-A Dayton Dragons in 2011, Donald had an incredible season, racking up a .301 BA, 20 home runs, and had the team’s first cycle (a single, double, triple and home run in one game). He made his major league debut for the Reds on April 29, 2013, becoming the first German raised player to play in the majors.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2015, Lutz went on to play for the Bravos de León of the Mexican Baseball League, and the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association. The next step in his comeback was joining the Bandits for the 2015-16 season, where helped lead the team to their first championship and was named the Series MVP. He continued on to help the Bandits win 4 consecutive championships and in 2017/18, along with TJ Bennett, broke the single season homerun record with 16 dingers.
When not hammering balls in Viticon Stadium, Donald stays busy traveling with his wife, and helping the development of young ball players. Most notably, as the Bandits Academy Coordinator for the past 3 years.
The Bandits are very lucky and grateful to have Donald Lutz signed for another season!