Luck 'A Gamer' Who Has The 'Will To Succeed'

FENTON - “A gamer.”

That is a compliment used to describe ball players through the years. It is part of what Aaron Wilson said about Connor Luck.

“Connor is a coach's dream, someone who has the will to succeed,” the PBR Michigan Director of Scouting related about the Fenton High School junior. “He’s a hard-working player who is extremely respectful off the field as well. He’s an infielder with an in-game bat that plays. He is a gamer.”

Unfortunately, the fifth-ranked 2022 shortstop in the state has not had many opportunities to get before coaches in the past year due to the coronavirus to display his “gamer” mentality.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of Division I schools, but obviously covid the last year has not given them a chance to see me in person besides Future Game videos and live-streaming,” Luck noted. “I think the spring is going to be big for me. There are a couple I’m super interested in, so this will be a big spring.”

The 17-year-old points to “MAC and Big 10-type schools” as those he has been in contact with up to this time during recruitment.

“I started talking to schools a little before the Future Games and it really picked up from there,” Luck explained. “Those I’ve talked with like my ability to hit. Before last summer I was more of a contact guy and they liked my line-drive approach. But I’ve started hitting for more power.”

That has come with working out.

“I’ve gotten a lot stronger and put on more weight,” the 5-11 190-pounder said. “With that I’ve gotten more power. I’ve also improved my consistency hitting. Another thing I’ve been doing is a lot of speed training with guys at a local facility. I’ve gotten a lot faster which I feel was the weakest part of my attributes. Hopefully, that all translates to this spring.”

There is more that Luck believes he can show once coaches see him in action.

“I can hit anywhere in the lineup, from leadoff through the order,” Luck said. “I also have the ability to play anywhere … shortstop, third base, outfield. Growing up I played infield but one summer, 13U, I played more outfield. Then I was moved back to the infield my freshman year of high school. But my favorite position is in the batter’s box.”

The propensity to succeed at the plate helped Luck gain notoriety as college baseball became something he realized could be in his future.

“Growing up I played for the Hit Dogs so I was in this culture program,” the 44th-rated junior in Michigan reflected. “Playing in college was always in the back of your mind but I didn’t realize it could happen until I was 13 or 14 when some teammates started committing early. Then my freshman year in high school it started to be more real when people started to reach out. It definitely became more real after the Future Games.

“That was awesome,” Luck continued about the PBR showcase last August. “It’s one of the favorite baseball events I’ve done my whole life. It was great meeting guys in Michigan that are equal or better than you. Everybody had the same dreams and hopes and wanted to play well. It was just a cool atmosphere.”

Matt Petry, former summer coach Derrick Ross, high school coach Shawn Lawrence and D Las Vegas coaches Tim McDonald, Mike Weatherly and Mitch Bone have been vital in helping Luck get to the point of being a D-I college recruit who can benefit a program at the next level.

“I’m someone who is going to work his butt off,” Luck related. “I’m a great teammate that will pick people up and cheer them on. I’m a winner who is very competitive. I think that will translate well to college.”

Where he ends up - “I’ll play baseball in the north, I’ll play baseball in the south” - is unknown, but what is known is that Luck looks forward to the final stretch of his recruiting process.

“I think this is going to be a big spring,” concluded Luck, who carries a 3.9 GPA and is likely to major in some field of business. “I think most colleges want to get it done. Hopefully, but the end of the high school season or before the end of summer season it will happen.”