In 2018, the Colorado Rockies selected Shelby Lackey in the 18th round of the MLB draft. Since then he has seen his stock rise in three minor league seasons. Although Lackey was the 546th overall pick, he was one of the Rockies’ top 30 prospects at the beginning of the 2021 campaign. While he has battled injuries this year, Lackey has had a bounce-back season and is a prospect to watch.
Although Lackey is in his third pro season, the 2018 draft was an unforgettable process. “On the third day, I got a bunch of calls early in the day asking if I would still sign,” said Lackey. ” The Rockies called in the 16th round and offered me a deal, but it wasn’t the right one. I was so frustrated. I went for a walk, but my phone [was] flooded with calls from my friends and old teammates. The Rockies and my agent were able to work out a deal. It was a crazy and stressful process.”
Following the draft, Lackey appeared in 21 games in Low-A. In his first taste of minor league baseball, he posted a 1.60 ERA in 21 appearances. The right-hander also struck out 32 batters in 33.2 innings of work. While being used primarily out of the bullpen, Lackey excelled and was impressive in his new role.
“As a reliever, you have to be confident in whatever you got that day,” said Lackey. ” It’s been a grind since there are more games in pro ball. Having a good routine and a strong mindset is key. You have to find what makes you feel good day in and day out.”
https://twitter.com/RoxMiLBVids/status/1398867313164754946?s=20
Lackey has Bounced Back in 2021
After an impressive 2018 campaign, Lackey struggled in 2019. In 21 games, he posted a 5.47 ERA and allowed 13 home runs. The University of the Pacific product has been much better this year after the 2020 minor league season was canceled. While the minor leagues were shut down, the Rockies’ reliever trained and reflected on his career so far.
“In 2020, I figured out what I needed to do and what player I wanted to be,” said Lackey. “I was in Arizona, and there were a lot of baseball opportunities down there. I had a lot of trainers that were willing to help me and found players to train with. I also talked to our old farm director, Zach Wilson, about getting into a role I was comfortable in again.”
The new mindset has paid off as Lackey has flashed his 2018 form. In 14 games this year, Lackey has posted a 2.63 ERA and recorded five saves. He has also seen his strikeout rate climb, and in 13.2 innings of work, he has struck out 21 batters. In that span, he has also shown better control and only allowed four walks. Heading into 2022, Lackey will be looking to build on his success.
“I’ve been a little dinged up this year,” said Lackey. “My goal is to go into the offseason healthy and with a good mindset. Over the last three years, I’ve had nagging injuries, but I’ve had success when I’m on the field this season. I’ve learned a lot about how to take care of my body and want to build on that.”
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Jamie Gatlin On Twitter @JamieGatlin17
Main Image Credit:
From Google Images
