ProfileHt.: 5'10" / Wt.: 155 / Bats: R / Throws: R
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Lucena is one of the few legitimate Latin American prospects in the system, a shortcoming that should change as the team makes a renewed commitment to international scouting under scouting director Jeff Luhnow. The Cardinals opened a new academy in the Dominican Republic over the winter and have several Latin American players at the lowest levels of the system that they'll monitor closely this year. The most advanced Latin prospect is Lucena, who won the Appalachian League batting title in his 2004 U.S. debut and handled the jump to low Class A last year. He has a simple line-drive swing that allows him to make contact almost at will. He struck out just once every 32.7 plate appearances in 2005, a rate that would have topped the minors if he had enough playing time to qualify. However, he needs to take more pitches and draw more walks because he'll never show much power. Lucena is a solid shortstop and the best defensive infielder in the system. He has sure hands and average arm strength, as well as the versatility to play other positions in case he has to become a utilityman. Lucena will take the next step to high Class A in 2006.
St. Louis hasn't gotten much production from Latin America, but Lucena could prove to be an exception. After spending a season each in the Rookie-level Venezuelan and Dominican Summer leagues, he led the Appalachian League in batting in his U.S. debut last year. He topped that off by getting significant time at shortstop for the Aragua Tigers in his native Venezuela over the winter, hitting .346 as a 20-year-old facing older veterans. Lucena is a line-drive hitter who has a knack for making contact, though he could stand to draw more walks. He led Appy shortstops with a .965 fielding percentage and has an average arm. His speed is a tick below average, but it hasn't held him back at shortstop yet because he has good instincts. While he doesn't need to be a power hitter, he'll need to get stronger to maintain his offensive production at higher levels. After his promising winter performance, Lucena should be the starting shortstop at St. Louis' new low Class A Quad Cities affiliate.
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Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006
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