Joey Lucchesi Bio
Joseph George Lucchesi (born June 6, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants, making his MLB debut in 2018. Known for the nickname “Fuego,” Lucchesi built a reputation as a strikeout pitcher through a strong college career and an early rise through the Padres system.
Across his MLB career, Lucchesi has served as both a starter and a reliever, showing the ability to miss bats and work deep into games. His path from a community college program in California to a senior day in the big leagues has been marked by back-to-back conference pitcher of the year honors and a record-setting strikeout total at Southeast Missouri State University.
Early Life and Background
Joseph George Lucchesi was born on June 6, 1993, and grew up rooting for the Oakland Athletics, the club his family followed during his childhood in Northern California. He attended Newark Memorial High School in Newark, California, where he played baseball before moving on to the next level.
After high school, Lucchesi began his college career at Chabot College, a community college in Hayward, California, where he continued to develop as a pitcher. He later transferred to Southeast Missouri State University, where his performance elevated him onto the national amateur radar. He was inducted into the Southeast Missouri State Hall of Fame in 2021, a reflection of the mark he left on the program.
Path to Baseball
Lucchesi’s college progression showed steady improvement. At Chabot College, he refined his mechanics and command, setting the stage for his move to a four-year program. His time at Southeast Missouri State University is where his draft stock rose significantly.
In 2015 and 2016, Lucchesi was named the Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first pitcher in conference history to win the award in back-to-back seasons. During his 2016 junior season, he posted a 10–5 record with a 2.19 earned run average (ERA) across 17 games (16 starts). He finished his Southeast Missouri State career with 242 strikeouts, a school record. The San Diego Padres selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with the organization.
Joey Lucchesi Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
After signing with the Padres, Lucchesi made his professional debut with the Tri-City Dust Devils. On July 28, 2016, he combined with three other pitchers to throw a one-hitter against the Spokane Indians. He was promoted to the Fort Wayne TinCaps in September, and across 15 games between the two clubs, he posted an 0–2 record and a 1.29 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 42 innings.
In 2017, Lucchesi pitched for both the Lake Elsinore Storm and the San Antonio Missions. He produced a combined 11–7 record with a 2.20 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 24 total games (23 starts) between the two affiliates, cementing his place as one of the Padres’ top young arms.
San Diego Padres Era (2018–2020)
Lucchesi made his MLB debut on March 30, 2018, at Petco Park against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the first pitcher from the 2016 draft to reach the majors and the second player overall after Austin Hays. He started and pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout; he did not receive a decision as the Brewers won 8–6. He finished his 2018 rookie season with an 8–9 record and a 4.08 ERA in 26 starts, leading the rotation with 10 strikeouts per nine innings while averaging 5.0 innings per start.
In 2019, Lucchesi led the Padres pitching staff in wins (10), innings pitched (163⅔), and strikeouts (158), finishing with a 4.18 ERA in 30 starts. He allowed the lowest line drive percentage (17.0 percent) of any major league pitcher that season. His 2020 campaign was shortened and difficult, as he posted a 0–1 record and a 7.94 ERA with five strikeouts in 5⅔ innings.
New York Mets Era (2021–2024)
On January 19, 2021, Lucchesi was traded to the New York Mets in a three-team deal that sent Joe Musgrove to the Padres and sent David Bednar, Omar Cruz, Drake Fellows, Hudson Head, and Endy Rodríguez to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 11 games during 2021, he went 1–4 with a 4.46 ERA and 41 strikeouts across 38⅓ innings. On June 21, he was diagnosed with a significant tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, and he underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season. Over his final five starts of 2021, he posted a 1.19 ERA in 22⅔ innings.
After missing the 2022 season while recovering from surgery, Lucchesi was optioned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin 2023. On April 21, 2023, he made his first start since June 18, 2021, against the San Francisco Giants, lasting seven innings with four hits, two walks, and nine strikeouts in a 7–0 Mets win. He made nine starts for the Mets in 2023, going 4–0 with a 2.89 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 46⅔ innings. In 2024, he was optioned to Syracuse to begin the year, recalled on May 15 to start against the Phillies, and later designated for assignment on July 9 after the Mets acquired Phil Maton. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Syracuse on July 14, then recalled on September 30 to start the Mets’ final regular-season game, throwing 113 pitches over six innings against the Braves. On November 4, 2024, he was removed from the 40-man roster, rejected an outright assignment, and elected free agency.
San Francisco Giants Era (2025)
On January 20, 2025, Lucchesi signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He was called up to the major league club on June 15 and pitched ⅔ of an inning that day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing three hits and two runs with no strikeouts. He went on to make a career-high 38 appearances for San Francisco, posting an 0–1 record and a 3.76 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 38⅓ innings. On November 21, 2025, Lucchesi was non-tendered by the Giants and became a free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lucchesi’s identity on the mound has always revolved around swing-and-miss stuff. He has consistently generated strong strikeout rates, including a team-leading 10 strikeouts per nine innings during his 2018 rookie season, and he posted a 0.97 WHIP in the minors in 2017. He has shown the ability to limit line drives, leading all major league pitchers with a 17.0 percent line drive rate in 2019, and his low line drive rates have generally pointed to quality contact management. He has served in both starting and relief roles, adapting to multi-inning relief and traditional starting assignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Lucchesi’s career came on March 30, 2018, when he became the first pitcher from the 2016 MLB draft to reach the majors. His record 242 career strikeouts at Southeast Missouri State University stands as a program benchmark, and his 2019 season with the Padres, where he led the staff in wins, innings, and strikeouts, marked his most complete big league year. His 2023 return from Tommy John surgery against the Giants, when he struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, ranked among the most impressive comebacks of his career.
Joey Lucchesi Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Joey Lucchesi has accumulated regular-season wins as both a starter and a reliever, with his most productive stretch coming during his 2018 and 2019 seasons with the San Diego Padres. He has also produced memorable scoreless outings, including his 2023 return start against the San Francisco Giants.
Major League Highlights
Lucchesi finished his 2018 rookie season with 8 wins and his 2019 season with 10 wins, leading the Padres in victories that year. His 2023 return yielded 4 wins without a loss in 9 starts for the Mets. He added career-high appearances in 2025 with the Giants, contributing out of the bullpen as San Francisco relied on his swing-and-miss profile.
Other Wins & Performances
In the minors, Lucchesi produced an 11–7 record across the 2017 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm and San Antonio Missions, and he was a part of a combined one-hitter with the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2016. His back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year awards in 2015 and 2016 highlighted his dominance at the collegiate level.
Joey Lucchesi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lucchesi grew up in Northern California as a fan of the Oakland Athletics. Beyond his connection to the Oakland Athletics, no further public family background or racing lineage is verifiable for the baseball pitcher.
Personal Life
Lucchesi earned the nickname “Fuego” when a Southeast Missouri State teammate suggested it while he was trying to create a Twitter handle. He is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Jenifer, and the couple welcomed a daughter on December 10, 2024. In 2021, Lucchesi was inducted into the Southeast Missouri State Hall of Fame.
2025 Season Performance
Joey Lucchesi spent the 2025 season in the San Francisco Giants organization after signing a minor league contract on January 20, 2025. He was called up to the major league club on June 15 and made a career-high 38 appearances out of the bullpen, posting an 0–1 record and a 3.76 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 38⅓ innings pitched.
He adapted to a relief role for the Giants, leveraging his swing-and-miss arsenal in shorter stints. His 2025 campaign reflected a bounce-back chapter after a heavy workload with the Mets organization and another arm rehabilitation cycle.
On November 21, 2025, the Giants non-tendered Lucchesi, making him a free agent. With his free agency, Lucchesi is positioned to pursue a new contract for the upcoming season, with the possibility of returning to a starting role or continuing in a multi-inning relief capacity.