25-year-old German outfielder/first baseman Donald Lutz is back in Major League Baseball. The Cincinnati Reds recalled the slugger on Friday from Triple-A Louisville. The promotion comes just a couple of days after he got moved from Double-A Pensacola to Louisville.
He was hitting a combined .337/.400/.654 with seven home runs, 18 runs and 19 RBI in 28 games between the two levels. With Pensacola he hit for the cycle and left the Blue Wahoos with a franchise best 18 home runs in three years in the Southern League. With the Reds he replaced Neftali Soto on the active roster.
Nearly 13 months ago Lutz made his big league debut for Cincinnati and became the first German developed player to reach the elusive MLB. He batted .241/.254/.310 in 34 games, mainly used as a pinch hitter. His highlight was a home run on mother’s day.