Inductees

Lucas Harrell spent a lot of time playing whiffle ball and shooting hoops while growing up in Springfield.

The back yard was for whiffle ball and, later, fielding grounders hit by his dad. The front yard, the driveway, that’s where the basketball was played.

“When I got a little bit older we got a batting cage, so I did a lot of hitting in the backyard,” Harrell said. “Spending that time with my dad was really special and it’s also where my love for the game grew.”

It’s also where his talent grew, talent that would eventually lead Harrell on a worldwide professional baseball journey which included seven seasons in the Major Leagues and one year in Korea. His success in the sport is why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Harrell as a member of its Class of 2024.

Like many young boys, Harrell grew up wanting to play professional baseball. But he never realized that dream could be a reality until the summer before his senior season.

Harrell was invited to pitch at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., an annual summer event for the nation’s top high school baseball players.

“I got to play in front of college scouts and pro scouts, and I also was approached by some agents,” Harrell said. “That was kind of where I was like, well, maybe this is not a dream anymore.”

In June of 2004, following the completion of his senior season at Ozark High School where he led the Tigers to a state title, the Chicago White Sox selected Harrell in the fourth round of the MLB Draft.

Harrell, who had verbally committed to play at Crowder Community College, signed with the White Sox and was sent to Chicago’s rookie league team in Bristol, Va. But the well-traveled Harrell wasn’t fazed by being away from home.

“The biggest difference was how small the town was,” he said.

It took six years to reach the big leagues. Harrell missed the entire 2007 season, a significant loss of developmental time, but in July of 2010, the White Sox brought Harrell up to the big club.

“When I got called up at first I kind of thought it was one of my teammates, and someone was playing a joke on me,” Harrell said. “But then when I realized it was me, I was excited and ready for the opportunity. I called my parents who were headed to Louisville, and they made the trip up to Chicago to see my first game.”

He made his Major League debut on July 30, 2010, tossing six innings of four-hit ball against Oakland, and getting the win in a 6-1 Chicago victory.

He went on to make seven more appearances for the White Sox that season, most coming after being a September call-up.

Harrell was sent back to Triple A to start the 2011 season, but was soon back in Chicago, making three appearances in May and June before the Houston Astros claimed him off waivers in July. He spent most of the rest of 2011 with Houston’s Triple A club before once again getting a September call-up.

The next spring, Harrell was named to Houston’s starting rotation out of spring training. He responded to his first full-time MLB opportunity by tossing a team-leading 193.2 innings in 32 starts and posting a 3.76 ERA.

He was a starter again in 2013 for the Astros, but also spent some time working out of the bullpen. He made 36 appearances for Houston that season, but in 2014 Harrell was outrighted to the minors, where he spent most of the year.

Harrell decided it was time for a change in 2015, so he signed with the KBO’s LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea.

“The season over there was pretty amazing and it was a great overall experience,” he said. “Being in a different culture and a different style of play. It also gave me an opportunity to really study my own video and improve myself as a player.”

He went back to the states for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, pitching for the Braves, Rangers and Blue Jays to close out his career.

A lot of people helped Harrell achieve his dream.

“The biggest impact came from my mom and my dad for always believing in me and supporting me for whatever I did,” Harrell said. “Then my sister, who I looked up to as a kid and her being supportive as well. And then all my coaches and teammates along the way.”