Luke Voit is a professional baseball player who has had a fascinating career in the sport. He played his college baseball at Missouri State and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013. After a few seasons in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2017.
In 2018, he was traded to the New York Yankees, where he had a breakout season and became a fan favorite. However, injuries limited his playing time in 2019 and 2020, and he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.
After a brief stint with the Cardinals, he was traded once again to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he recently signed a one-year deal with a club option for 2024. In this blog post, we will explore the highs and lows of Voit’s career and what led him to where he is today.
Luke Voit’s Early Career
Luke Voit played college baseball at Missouri State from 2010-2013. He had a standout career there, setting school records for home runs (40) and RBIs (165). He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2013, his senior year.
Voit was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He began his professional career in the minor leagues with the State College Spikes, where he hit .308 with 4 home runs in 54 games.
Voit steadily rose through the minor leagues, playing for several Cardinals affiliates along the way. He had a breakout season in 2016 with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, hitting .297 with 19 home runs and 74 RBIs in 134 games.
This performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Memphis, where he continued to hit well with a .322 batting average in 30 games. These strong showings earned him a call-up to the majors in 2017.
Voit’s Major League Debut With the Cardinals
Luke Voit made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on June 25, 2017, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his second at-bat of the game, he hit a two-run double to left field for his first major league hit, helping the Cardinals to a 9-4 victory.
Although Voit had a strong debut, he received limited playing time with the Cardinals in 2017. He played in only 62 games, hitting .246 with 4 home runs and 13 RBIs. Despite his limited playing time, he showed flashes of potential and was seen as a promising young player for the Cardinals.
Voit’s Trade to the New York Yankees
Luke Voit’s breakout season came in 2018 after he was traded to the New York Yankees. He was acquired by the Yankees in a trade deadline deal for relief pitcher Chasen Shreve and starting pitcher Giovanny Gallegos.
Voit immediately made an impact for the Yankees, hitting .333 with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in just 39 games. He also set a new Yankees record by hitting a home run in each of his first two games with the team.
Although Voit’s performance in 2018 was promising, he struggled with injuries in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, he was limited to just 118 games due to a sports hernia injury, but still managed to hit .263 with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs.
In 2020, he was hampered by a foot injury and played in just 56 games, hitting .277 with 22 RBIs.
Despite his injury struggles, Voit was still seen as a valuable asset for the Yankees. In July 2018, he was acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, along with international signing bonus pool money, in exchange for pitchers Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos.
The trade proved to be a steal for the Yankees, as Voit became an important piece of their lineup in the following years.
Voit’s Brief Stint With the St. Louis Cardinals
In July 2021, Luke Voit was traded back to the St. Louis Cardinals, the team that originally drafted him, in exchange for pitchers Tony Locey and Kodi Whitley. Voit’s return to the Cardinals was a homecoming of sorts, and many fans were excited to see him back in St. Louis.
However, Voit’s playing time with the Cardinals was once again limited. He played in just 8 games for the team, hitting .182 with 1 home run and 1 RBI. Despite his struggles, he remained a fan favorite in St. Louis and was seen as a valuable addition to the team.
In September 2021, the Cardinals traded Voit once again, this time to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. Voit’s time in St. Louis was short-lived, but his journey in the MLB continued with the Brewers.
The trade reunited him with former Yankees teammate and current Brewers star, DJ LeMahieu, and Voit was excited to join the playoff-contending team.
In January 2022, he signed a one-year deal with the Brewers that included a club option for 2024, keeping him in Milwaukee for the foreseeable future.
Voit’s Signing With the Milwaukee Brewers
In January 2022, Luke Voit signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers that included a club option for 2024. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it was reported that Voit would earn $1.65 million for the 2022 season.
Voit’s potential role with the Brewers is still uncertain, as the team already has a strong first baseman in former MVP Christian Yelich. However, Voit’s versatility as a hitter and his ability to play multiple positions could make him a valuable asset off the bench.
He could also potentially split time with Yelich at first base, or serve as a designated hitter in interleague games.
The future prospects for Voit’s career are still up in the air, but he has shown that he has the potential to be a valuable player in the MLB. If he can stay healthy and continue to produce at the plate, he could carve out a long and successful career for himself.
His ability to play multiple positions and provide power off the bench could also make him a valuable asset for any team in need of an offensive boost.
Luke Voit’s Career Statistics by Season
| Season | Team | Games Played | Batting Average | Home Runs | RBIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | STL | 62 | .246 | 4 | 18 |
| 2018 | STL/NYY | 47/39 | .322 | 15/14 | 36/33 |
| 2019 | NYY | 118 | .263 | 21 | 62 |
| 2020 | NYY | 56 | .277 | 22 | 52 |
| 2021 | NYY/STL/MIL | 29/20/28 | .232 | 3/2/3 | 11/6/10 |
This table shows Voit’s games played, batting average, home runs, and RBIs for each season he has played in the MLB. The data is organized by season, with each row representing a different year. The table is titled “Luke Voit’s Career Statistics by Season”.
FAQs
What position does Luke Voit play?
Luke Voit is primarily a first baseman, but he has also played as a designated hitter and in the outfield during his MLB career.
What was Luke Voit’s breakout season with the Yankees?
Luke Voit’s breakout season with the New York Yankees was in 2018, when he hit .333 with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs in just 39 games. He finished the season with a .322 batting average and 15 home runs in 47 games.
What caused Luke Voit’s injuries in 2019 and 2020?
In 2019, Luke Voit suffered a sports hernia that required surgery and caused him to miss several weeks of the season. In 2020, he dealt with foot and knee injuries that limited his playing time and production.
How did Luke Voit become a fan favorite?
Luke Voit became a fan favorite for his energetic personality and clutch hitting. He was also known for his interactions with fans on social media and his love for the city of New York.
What are Luke Voit’s career statistics?
As of the end of the 2021 MLB season, Luke Voit has a career batting average of .260 with 69 home runs and 193 RBIs in 380 games played.
Conclusion
Luke Voit’s career has been filled with ups and downs, but he has shown that he has the talent and determination to succeed in the MLB. He started his journey as a college baseball player at Missouri State before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013.
After struggling to find playing time with the Cardinals, he was traded to the New York Yankees in 2018, where he had a breakout season and became a fan favorite.
Despite dealing with injuries in 2019 and 2020, he remained a valuable player for the Yankees and was eventually traded back to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.
After a brief stint with the Cardinals, he was traded once again, this time to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he hopes to contribute to the team’s success. With his versatile skill set and power at the plate, Voit has the potential to continue making an impact in the MLB for years to come.
