Available 2024: Argentinian National Team Catcher with MiLB and Overseas Experience.
Name: Lucas Nakandakare
Height: 183cm
Weight: 100kg
DOB: September 18, 1987
Date Available: January 1, 2024
Rookie ball experience Will Pay FlightBats: R
Throws: R
Positions: C
Positions (alt): Youth Coach, 1B, 3B, LF
College: N/A
Personal
Career Highlights
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Played four seasons in Tampa Bay Rays (Major League Baseball) organization
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Batted .302 with a .790 OPS in 2007
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Batted .340 with .818 OPS in Arizona Winter League in 2012 – helped lead the team to the league championship
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Starting catcher in Argentina’s Liga Metropolitana de Beisbol since 2002 . Four times champion with Velez Sarsfield(2014-2015-2018-2019).
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Member of Argentina’s national team since 2005 – national team has been South American champion five times
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Participated in the Pan American Games in 2019
- Four times national champion with the Buenos Aires League team(2005-2014-2017-2019).
- Won Clarin Revelacion Award in 2006
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Won Eric Walker Community Award in 2009
- Won Olimpia de plata Award in 2014
- LAB champion 2021 (Falcons, Cordoba)
- World Baseball Classic Qualifiers 2022 (Panama city)
- LMB Champion 2022- Buenos aires Patriots
- LMB Champion 2023- Buenos Aires Patriots
What I bring to the table
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Lucas is a good contact hitter and can hit for average.
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As a catcher, he has a 1.94-second pop time, and he is strong fundamentally.
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Lucas can also play first base, if necessary, so he has some versatility.
Lucas has “a very strong work ethic and [is] very open to helping [his] teammates, both on and off the field.”
Overseas Goals
“I want to keep playing baseball while experiencing other countries and cultures . . . to continue growing in sports and in life. I’d also like to use my knowledge and experience to help grow the game in different parts of the world.”
Staying in Shape
Lucas is training regularly with the national team and is also playing in a local league.
Catching Videos
Hitting Videos
Playing Experience
Stats
Pro/Overseas Batting
| Years | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Rays | 33 | 96 | 7 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 24 | 17 | 0 | 2 | .302 | .446 | .344 |
| 2009 | Rays | 27 | 64 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 1 | .172 | .274 | .172 |
| 2012 | Atleticos | 19 | 53 | 13 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .340 | .441 | .377 |
| 2013 | McAllen | 29 | 80 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 0 | 1 | .213 | .300 | .225 |
| 2015 | Velez | 18 | 63 | 26 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 18 | 2 | 15 | - | .413 | .536 | .540 |
| 2015 | Velez | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | - | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.400 |
| 2016 | Velez | 18 | 66 | 18 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 16 | 2 | 5 | - | .364 | .500 | .485 |
| 2018 | Velez | - | 68 | 12 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 2 | 1 | .338 | .489 | .471 |
| 2018 | Argentina | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | .200 | .429 | .200 |
| 2019 | Velez | 12 | 46 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .326 | .458 | .370 |
| 2019 | Argentina | 4 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | - | - | .417 | .417 | .500 |
| 2019 | Argentina | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | - | .111 | .200 | .111 |
| 2019 | PanAmerican | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .429 | .200 |
| 2019 | Metro A1 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .455 | .538 | .545 |
| 2019 | Velez | 16 | 52 | 16 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 1 | .365 | .545 | .673 |
| 2021 | Velez | 8 | 26 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .308 | .486 | .346 |
| 2021 | Velez | 13 | 42 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 0 | .286 | .475 | .310 |
| 2021 | Velez | 2 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | .700 | .500 |
| 2021 | Velez | 3 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .300 | .417 | .400 |
| 2021 | Cordoba | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .500 | .333 |
| 2022 | Wesseling Vermins | 16 | 55 | 19 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .309 | .461 | .418 |
| 2022 | Argentina | 5 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .438 | .444 | .438 |
| 2022 | Argentina | 3 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .222 | .462 | .222 |
| 2023 | Buenos Aires Patriots | 21 | 59 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | .237 | .375 | .288 |
Pro/Overseas Pitching
| Year | Team | ERA | GS | CG | IP | H | SO | BB | HBP | R | ER | Wins | Losses | SV | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Wesseling Vermins | 5.40 | - | 0 | 10.0 | 10 | 12 | 8 | - | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.80 |
Testimonials
I’m writing on behalf of Lucas Nakandakare, who I met in 2007 when I was the manager of the team at the Venezuelan Summer League and whom I had the opportunity to work with when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays organization!
I can say that he is very dedicated and responsible person, with a great work ethic!
As a hitter he showed consistency on his approach with good bat control!
Good communication and handled the pitching staff well as a catcher!
With great defensive skills and an average arm strength!
Had good knowledge of the game and will always give his 100% of effort to help the team to win!
I can not say enough about his dedication and maturity to work on what he needs to achieve his goals!
Excellent human being with great baseball skills!
Hoping he continues having opportunities to show what ha can do in the game!
Additional Info
Playing preferences: Europe Semi-pro (ie. Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, France etc.), Europe Pro (Italy, The Netherlands), Australia Semi-pro (State Leagues), Australia Pro (Australian Baseball League), New Zealand Semi-pro, South Africa Semi-pro, Asia Pro (Japan, Korea, Taiwan), Canada semi-pro (Intercounty Baseball League, NBSBL, QSBL, etc.), Latin America pro (Guatemala, Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, DR, etc)
Living preferences: Private living arrangement (apartment to self), Shared living arrangement, own bedroom, Shared living arrangement, shared bedroom, Give me a floor, pillow and a mat to sleep on, Host Family
Return home: I can stay as long as it takes to complete a season
Prior engagements: No
Recent injuries/illnesses: No
Traveling with a companion: No