Lucas Duda

Lucas Christopher Duda (born February 3, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut in 2010 for the Mets. Prior to playing professionally, Duda attended the University of Southern California (USC) and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. Duda, who bats left-handed and throws right-handed, has also appeared in the outfield for the Mets.\n', ' Duda was born in Fontana, California, on February 3, 1986 to David and Eleanor Duda. He attended Arlington High School in Riverside, California. Duda then enrolled in the University of Southern California (USC), where he played college baseball for the USC Trojans baseball team from 2005 through 2007. Duda played 143 games for the Trojans, hitting 11 home runs, with 81 runs batted in, and a .275 batting average.\n', ' Duda was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, as the 243rd overall selection. He began his professional career in 2007 with the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones of the Short Season Single-A New York–Penn League, where he batted .299, with 32 runs batted in, 32 runs, and 4 home runs. During the following winter, he played on the Waikiki BeachBoys of Hawaii Winter Baseball, batting .340, with 13 runs batted in, 12 runs, and 3 home runs. In 2008, he played for the St. Lucie Mets of the Single-A Florida State League, where he batted .263, with 66 runs batted in, 58 runs, 11 home runs. For the 2009 season, Duda was promoted to the Double-A Binghamton Mets, where he batted .281, with 53 runs batted in, 49 runs, and 9 home runs. During the fall of 2009, Duda played for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, where he in 5 at bats batted .400, with 2 runs batted in and no home runs. \n', '