Lucian, Staehely ready for next step
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Spencer Lucian and Christian Staehely have roomed together the last two years at Princeton University.
They will take different paths now, but hope to reunite in the major leagues. The Tiger seniors were selected in the baseball draft Friday, Lucian in the 31st round by the New York Yankees and Staehely in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners.
”To be drafted by the Yankees, just the name and the history has some sort of effect on you,” said Lucian, who was the 950th player selected overall. He comes to the Yankees after a Princeton career in which he proved himself a versatile fielder and outstanding hitter.
Lucian was a first-team All-Ivy League selection after leading the Tigers in batting average at .425 and hits with 62. He was second in RBIs, total bases and extra-base hits. The Yankees project him as a second baseman, although Princeton used him in the infield and outfield.
”Spencer had such a good year for us this year,” said PU coach Scott Bradley. “It’s just amazing from what he was as a freshman to playing professional baseball. He came in as a recruited shortstop. Sophomore year, during batting practice, he was running around and shagging fly balls and sophomore and junior year he became our every day center fielder. This year, we needed him in the infield and moved him back.
”The Yankees came in and worked him out. I think it’s a good spot for him. All he wants is a chance. We don’t know what will happen. We hope he’ll go to Staten Island. The other option is Florida. Hopefully, he’ll be a little closer.”
Most of Staehely’s options are on the West Coast after being selected by the Mariners. The right-handed pitcher from Houston led the Tigers with six wins this season. He had a 4.91 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 55 innings. He walked just 12 batters.
”I think it’s great to keep playing,” Staehely said. “The prospect of getting paid to have fun the rest of your life is one you have to take.”
Particularly when there were some doubts that it would happen. Staehely was on everyone’s radar after appearing on the Clemens Watch as a top collegiate pitcher sophomore year. He followed it up with a terrific summer in the Cape Cod League. Then, his pro chances to a shot.
”Junior year, he really struggled,” Bradley said. “He didn’t seem himself. Before the last game, he finally got a blood test and found out he pitched the whole year with mono. This year, it took him a while to get going but he finished well.
”He went to Sweden. He played for Team Sweden. He came back and his last four or five starts, he looked like his old self. Some of scouts were able to see what they saw a couple years ago.”
Staehely was selected to the second-team All-Ivy team. Bradley is working to add another PU pitcher to this year’s professional signees. Steve Miller was undrafted despite having a 4.36 ERA. He even threw a no-hitter this season.
”We’re disappointed for Steve Miller,” Bradley said. “He should have been drafted. It’s just like what happened with (current Cleveland Double-A player Erik) Stiller. Hopefully there’s a chance we can use that and get Steven signed somewhere. All three are well deserved. We’re all thrilled for them.
”These kids are so happy for the opportunity,” he added. “Even though they have their Princeton degrees, there’s nothing they want to do more than go toil around in the minors and make $800 a month.”
Both Lucian and Staehely had to wait until late on the second day of the draft to hear their name, but the wait was worth it.
”I had no idea going into it what was going to happen,” Lucian said. “I was fairly certain I wasn’t going on Day One. As Day Two got under way, I started looking at the draft tracker. I was sitting around just watching things. Whenever the Yankees and some of the other teams I talked to came up, I’d pay a little closer attention.”
On Monday, Lucian will join other Yankees selections in Tampa for a mini-camp in which they will be evaluated. He hasn’t batted in a game since the Tigers ended their season in April, and he is looking forward to getting back in the swing of things.
”It’s been a while since I’ve been in a game situation,” Lucian said. “I want to get back out there. I want to get some at bats and make an impression on them that I can play.
”Obviously, it would be great to keep hitting .425. When you pick up a wood bat and start seeing some high caliber on the mound and in the field, it’s probably not going to happen. I’m prepared for it. You’re not supposed to hit over .400 in baseball. I’m ready for it. I really want to see where I stack up and what I need to improve on to keep playing.”
Both Lucian and Staehely have their Princeton degrees and are looking forward to just playing baseball for a while. Lucian graduated with a degree in operations research and financial engineering. Staehely was a psychology major. Finishing school first is helpful.
”I don’t have to balance the hard stuff that I had at Princeton with baseball now,” Staehely said. “I don’t have to worry about taking a test the next day. For the first time, I can block completely everything else out while I pitch.”
Staehely had strong interest from five teams going into the draft. The Mariners finally selected him and will evaluate him further at a mini-camp in Peoria, Ariz. Having the draft out of the way is one less worry gone.
”I couldn’t bring myself to show up to the earlier stuff,” Staehely said. “I didn’t want to be heartbroken. I showed up halfway through the draft to my dad’s office and we listened to it.
”I wasn’t even jumping up and down,” he added. “I was just shocked. I haven’t talked to anyone from them. It took a while for it to settle in, then I realized the dream I had since I was a little kid just happened.”
Staehely had his doubts last year after mono disrupted his life that the day would come. Back then, his big concern was just getting himself to feel better to do everyday activities.
”I feel like I’m back to my old self,” Staehely said. “At least I’ve had that down moment already. I know how to deal with disappointment. Every player is going to have that disappointing moment. I had mine.”
It was all forgotten when he became the second Princeton player selected along with his former roommate Lucian in the major league draft. Now the two focus on reaching the pros.