Tag Archives: 2003 MLB Draft

Former Kansas City Royals Bonus Baby Chris Lubanski Refuses To Give Up On His Big League Dreams

It’s hard to believe that Chris Lubanski is still just 26 years old. The Kennedy Kenrick High School in Pennsylvania product never lived up to the hype he carried when the Kansas City Royals made him the 5th overall pick of the 2003 draft. After three promising seasons in Low-A, High-A, and Double-A as he climbed the organizational ladder, Lubanski hit a wall when he got to Triple-A batting just .208, .242, and .227 in three seasons with the Omaha Royals. By the end of the 2009 season, the Royals had given up and he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and put up respectable numbers, hitting .293 with 24(2B), 6(3B), 17HR’s, and 57RBI’s in 100 games during an injury plagued season for the Las Vegas 51’s. He landed with the Florida Marlins organization in 2011 but was released in Spring Training and was not picked up by another club, so the former bonus baby found himself on the fringes of professional baseball as a member of the Chico Outlaws of the independent North American League. Lubanski’s prayers of a second chance at affiliated ball were answered by the Philadelphia Phillies who signed him in early August and sent him to Double-A Reading, miles from where he grew up. In the story, Lubanski talks about refusing to give up on his big league dreams, the opportunity to play at a stadium that he used to roam as a kid, and keeping the faith as he has dealt with loads of adversity. It’s a great read.

Lubanski’s road finally winds to Reading — Reading Eagle

Former Indians 1st Round Pick Adam Miller Once Again On The Comeback Trail

Eight long years after being the 31st overall selection in the first round of the 2003 draft, Adam Miller is once again on the cusp of finally making it to the majors. Miller is back at Double-A Akron after missing the 2009 and 2010 seasons following his fourth surgery to repair ligament damage to the middle finger on his throwing hand. As unlikely as it would seem and despite a surgically disfigured finger, Miller has regained some of the form that once had him among the brightest pitching prospects in the game. Miller sat down with the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto and talks about his long road back to baseball.

Adam Miller May Be The Highlight Of The Tribe’s Surprising Season — Cleveland.com