| Barret Loux | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Loux withTexas A&M in 2008 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-04-06)April 6, 1989 (age 36) Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
Barret Christopher Loux (born April 6, 1989) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher.
After Loux attendedStratford High School andTexas A&M University, theArizona Diamondbacks drafted Loux with the sixth overall selection in theMajor League Baseball (MLB)2010 draft. Arizona opted not to sign Loux, due to injury concerns with the shoulder and elbow of his pitching arm. Due to his unique situation, MLB declared Loux afree agent, and he signed with theTexas Rangers. The Rangers later traded Loux to theChicago Cubs, and he last pitched professionally in 2016, in anindependent baseball league.
Loux attendedStratford High School inHouston, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball team. While pitching for Stratford, Loux dealt with arm injuries.[1] He discovered stretching exercises that increased his strength and flexibility.[2]
After his senior season at Stratford, he participated in ascouting combine and all-star games sponsored by the Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association.[3] Out of high school, theDetroit Tigers selected Loux in the 24th round of the2007 MLB draft. While the Tigers made Loux a strong offer, he did not sign,[4] opting to playcollege baseball for theTexas A&M Aggies baseball team in theBig 12 Conference of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA)Division I.[5]
In 2008, as a true freshman, Loux had an 8–2win–loss record and led Texas A&M instrikeouts with 81.[4] Loux was named a Second Team NCAA Division I FreshmanAll-Americanstarting pitcher. As a sophomore, Loux pitched to a 3–3 record with 62 strikeouts.[4] He was named a Second Team Academic All-Big 12 pitcher.[6] After the season, Loux had elbow surgery.[2]
In his junior season, Loux routinely started on Friday nights, traditionally the night when a team'sace pitcher appears.[7] He pitched to an 11–2 win–loss record with a 2.83earned run average (ERA), while leading the Big 12 Conference with 136 strikeouts.[8] He was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week for the weeks ending on March 8 and May 17.[9][10] He was named a First Team NCAA Division I All-American byBaseball America, a Third Team All-American by theAmerican Baseball Coaches Association, and a Big 12 Conference All-Star starting pitcher.[8][11][12] He was also named a semifinalist for theGolden Spikes Award, given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States.[13]
Heading into the2010 MLB draft, Loux was seen as a potential late-first round pick.[5] Surprising many, theArizona Diamondbacks drafted Loux with the sixth overall selection, agreeing to a pre-draft deal with Loux with a $2 millionsigning bonus.[14] However, Loux failed his physical with the Diamondbacks due to a tornlabrum and elbow damage that doctors felt might require ligament replacement surgery in the future.[14][15] As a result, the Diamondbacks did not offer Loux a contract, as the franchise chose to take advantage of compensation rules that instead would grant them the seventh overall pick in the2011 MLB draft if they did not sign Loux.[16]
Though unsigned draft picks typically cannot begin their professional careers until the next season, MLB declared Loux afree agent in an unprecedented move.[17][18] After throwing for scouts,[19] Loux signed a contract with theTexas Rangers, receiving a signing bonus of $312,000.[20] In an attempt to prevent this situation from happening again, the newcollective bargaining agreement negotiated that winter by MLB and theMLB Players Association added clauses that included mandatory physicals for all top 200 prospects prior to the draft, and a rule that makes all future draft picks who fail a physical and do not receive an offer of at least 40 percent of the assigned value for that pick are to become free agents, with the team facing a reduction in the amount of money they can spend on their draft picks.[21]
The Rangers assigned Loux to pitch for theMyrtle Beach Pelicans of theHigh–ACarolina League during the 2011 season. With the Pelicans, Loux had an 8–5 win–loss record with a 3.80earned run average (ERA) in 21games started.[22] In 2012, with theFrisco RoughRiders of theDouble–ATexas League, Loux began the season with a 9–0 record and 2.20earned run average.[22] After finishing the season with a 14–1 record, a 3.47 ERA and 100strikeouts, Loux was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year.[23]
At the 2012 trade deadline, the Rangers acquiredGeovany Soto from theChicago Cubs forJake Brigham; however, the Cubs were concerned about Brigham's health and agreed to the trade on the condition that if Brigham was unable to play, the Cubs would send Brigham back to the Rangers and acquire Loux and aplayer to be named later in his place. On November 20, 2012, with Brigham experiencing an elbow injury, Loux was traded to the Cubs.[24]
Loux pitched for theIowa Cubs of theTriple–APacific Coast League in 2013.[2] He suffered a shoulder injury and underwentTommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the 2014 season.[25] In 2015, Loux experienced an elbow injury after making three starts for Iowa,[26] and was released on July 17, 2015.[27]
In 2016, Loux pitched in twoindependent baseball leagues. He pitched for theLaredo Lemurs of theAmerican Association of Independent Professional Baseball,[28] and for theSugar Land Skeeters of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball. Loux has not pitched professionally since 2016.
Loux throws four pitches, of which he considers hisfastball to be his best.[29] It can reach 94 miles per hour (151 km/h).[2] He also throws acurveball, aslider, and achangeup.[29]
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