The Rangers are headed to the postseason for the second consecutive season after winning the AL West. As this will be the first time that many fans across the Majors will be focusing on their roster, here's our attempt to learn the origins of catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Born: Eustis, Fla.
DOB: 6/13/86
HS: Umatilla (Fla.) High School
College: Louisiana Lafayette
Minors: North Shore (Rookie), Helena (Rookie), West Virginia (A), Brevard County (A+), Huntsville (AA), Nashville (AA)
:: Before they were Postseason-bound: Select a player ::
Path to Texas: Lucroy was acquired by the Rangers on Aug. 1 with Jeremy Jeffress from the Brewers for Lewis Brinson, Luis Ortiz and Ryan Cordell.
Trophy case: Lucroy is a two-time All-Star and finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 2014.
Famous feat: Lucroy set the all-time record for doubles in a single season by a catcher in 2014 with 46 -- also hitting seven as a first baseman.
You might not know: Lucroy began playing at the age of 7 and started catching at 12 because "no one else could do it, so my dad made me." His dad coached him until high school.
Six degrees of Willie Aikens: Lucroy and current Ranger Carlos Gómez played together in Milwaukee. In fact, Lucroy's first career home run was the first of back-to-back shots, with Gomez following Lucroy's three-run homer with a solo homer.
"I don't take things for granted, I don't accept mediocrity, especially within myself," Lucroy says. "That drives me to be the best in baseball."
Offseason hobby: Lucroy is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting and fishing. He hunts deer and ducks. The largest fish he's ever caught is an eight- or nine-pound bass.
No creepy crawlers: Lucroy doesn't like spiders or snakes.