Saturday, September 15, 2001
[ PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ]
When Keith Luuloa signed with San Diego last fall as a six-year free agent he wanted to go to the Padres' spring training camp knowing he would have a shot at returning to the big leagues. Luuloa seeks return to majors
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Molokai High School graduate experienced that, although it was brief, in 2000 when he was with the Anaheim Angels for six games.
He discussed with the Padres the opportunities available, platooning at shortstop or making the roster as a utility player. He spent the spring with San Diego, played in 15 exhibition games, hit .231, but was assigned to Portland in the Pacific Coast League to start the season.
"The one thing that killed me was (shortstop) Chris Gomez proving that he was healthy," said Luuloa.
"One of the things I didn't weigh when I signed was, if things didn't work out in San Diego, would I be a starter in Portland? After I signed, San Diego just kept picking up infielders."
Luuloa hit over .300 well into June, but began to see less and less playing time as the Padres sent two more infielders/outfielders to Portland, players more highly though of as prospects in the San Diego organization.
"I was only playing every third or fourth day," Luuloa said. "When I was released (July 16), I didn't blow up. I told my manager, Rick Sweet, that I understood what was happening and being released might actually help me. I know he took it hard, because I did everything he wanted, but it became a numbers game."
Luuloa and his agent talked to several other teams and he ended up signing with Houston's Triple-A affiliate New Orleans, also in the PCL, a day later.
"I wanted to go on the market and get with a team where I had a chance to play. I took New Orleans because I wanted to be in the playoffs and I haven't been there for a while," Luuloa said.
"The situation was similar to Portland, New Orleans is stacked with 40-man (roster) players, so I pinch hit a lot. It's hard to get your timing, so I just tried to be aggressive."
Luuloa, 26, has promised his wife, Denise, that if nothing big happens in his career by the time he is 30, that will be it for professional baseball.
He helps a friend run a baseball camp during the offseason and volunteers his time as a hitting coach at Lake Elsinore High School near his home in California.
He sees himself eventually coaching at the high school or college level, but not before he tests the free-agent market again this offseason.
"This was the first time I've gone through the free-agent experience and I've learned a lot," Luuloa said.
"I'm overwhelmed with the political part of this game. I love the game and it will be hard to get away from it, but I'm tired of being lied to. This coming year, money may not be the issue. The opportunity to play as a regular is more important."
Height: 6 feet. Keith Luuloa's career statistics
Weight: 185 pounds.
Throws: Right.
Bats: Right
Schools: Molokai H.S., Modesto (Calif.) Junior College
Year, Team, League G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB Avg. 1994-Angels, Arizona 28 97 14 29 4 1 1 10 3 .299 1995-Lake Elsinore, California 102 380 50 100 22 7 5 53 1 .263 1996-Midland, Texas 134 531 80 138 24 2 7 44 4 .260 1997-Midland, Texas 120 421 67 115 29 5 9 59 7 .273 1998-Midland, Texas 130 479 85 160 43 10 17 102 6 .334 1998-Vancouver, Pacific Coast 8 30 4 10 1 0 0 3 1 .333 1999-Edmonton, Pacific Coast 115 396 54 113 23 1 4 46 7 .285 2000-Edmonton, Pacific Coast 76 270 39 66 17 2 8 44 2 .244
2000-Anaheim, American 6 18 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 .333 2000-Iowa, Pacific Coast 4 16 4 6 0 0 1 4 1 .375 2001-Portland, Pacific Coast 64 217 31 59 13 2 4 16 1 .272 2001-New Orleans, Pacific Coast 36 93 14 19 7 0 2 11 0 .204 Minor League Totals 817 2,930 442 815 184 30 58 392 33 .278 Major League Totals 6 18 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Highlights
>> Drafted in the 33rd round by the California Angels, June 4, 1993. Signed May 24, 1994.
>> Led Lake Elsinore in errors (38) and tied for club lead in triples (7) in 1995.
>> Named to the Texas League Western Division all-star team, replacing an injured player, in 1996.
>> Played for the California Angels in the Hall of Fame Game in Cooperstown, N.Y., August 5, 1996.
>> Led the Texas League in at-bats (531) in 1996.
>> Led Midland in games played (134) and runs (80) and was second in hits (138), walks (47) and strikeouts per plate appearance (11.02) in 1997.
>> Named to the American League team for the 1998 Double-A All-Star Game.
>> Named top the Texas League Western Division all-star team in 1998.
>> Led the Texas League in extra base hits (70), finished third in batting (.334) and RBIs (102), tied for third in triples (10), was fourth in hits (160) and on-base percentage (.419) and tied for fourth in slugging percentage (.572) in 1998.
>> Listed as a Top 10 prospect (No. 7) in the Anaheim organization by Baseball America, January 1999.
>> Made his major league debut, May 19, 2000 against Baltimore and scored as a pinch runner.
>> Traded by the Anaheim Angels with pitcher Brett Hinchcliffe to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Chris Hatcher, pitcher Mike Heathcote and infielder Brett King, July 28, 2000. Assigned to Iowa of the Pacific Coast League.
>> On the disabled list (fractured trapezoid bone in left wrist), Aug. 2, 2000 to the end of the season.
>> Granted free agency, October 15, 2000.
>> Signed by the San Diego Padres, November 14, 2000.
>> Released by the San Diego Padres, July 16, 2001.
>> Signed by the Houston Astros, July 17, 2001.