Seth Lugo is entering the postseason as a key part of the Royals' starting rotation, a far cry from the Mets' bullpen where he spent most of his first seven seasons in the majors.
He became the Padres' starter after signing as a free agent a year ago and re-signed with Kansas City after a successful season in San Diego.
“This is what I've been working towards,” Lugo said Friday at Yankee Stadium before the Royals practiced ahead of Saturday's ALDS Game 1 in the Bronx. “This is what I wanted, to be able to pitch 200 innings and be in the postseason, so I put in all the effort. I worked hard, but you never know what's going to happen. It was a fun drive.”
The right-hander, who is likely to start Game 3 against the Yankees in Kansas City, said he never felt worried about not being established as the Mets' starter.
“Maybe it's the other way around,” Lugo said. “I had to figure out if I really wanted to pursue and put in the effort to be a starter.”
Lugo understood the risk he was taking.
“It's a step back to take two steps forward,” Lugo said of the move to move into the rotation. “It was just, I didn't know if I could do it. I knew I could be a reliever. And a lot of trainers and doctors told me that my arm couldn't stand up to being a starter. . How many times does someone tell you that until you believe it yourself?”
And he's not worried that the Mets might be proven wrong.
“The opportunity presented itself,” Lugo said. “Who's to say what would have happened with the Mets? You never know. I don't like to see the world that way.”
His All-Star season with the Royals included a spectacular performance against the Yankees on September 10th, pitching seven innings without allowing a run or a walk, with 10 strikeouts and a win over the Bronx. are.
“It's really nice to have this opportunity and to have a year like this and make the playoffs,” Lugo said. “As a baseball player, you put your all into your job and hope it goes well. It's special to be a part of.”
