If you follow the Philly Pressbox (https://phillypressbox.wordpress.com) (@phillypressbox) you’re aware that we did a review and analysis of each Phillies player, Manager Charlie Manuel and the coaching staff leading up to Opening Day 2012.  Now that the season has reached the 50 game mark there have been four additional players that are on the roster that we will get to know. We’ve profiled Jake Diekman, Raul Valdez and Mike Fontenot, today we will get to know Hector Luna. UPDATE: As the injuries keep mounting we will continue to profile additional players. Next up will be Michael Schwimer.

Hector Luna –Luna has been bouncing around the major leagues since making his debut in 2004, at the age of 24, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Other than 2009 and 2011 he has been on a big league roster every other season. Hector originally signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in 1999. He was drafted away from the Indians by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2002, then returned back to the Indians in 2003. The Cardinals drafted him out of the Indians organization in the 2003 Rule 5 draft later in 2003. In 2006 the Cardinals traded him back to the Indians. In 2007 he was waived by the Indians and signed by the Toronto Blue Jays. He lasted only one year in the Blue Jays organization before being granted free agency. He was quickly signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in December of 2008. Again, Hector only made it through one season with an organization. He was realeased by the Dodgers at the end of the 2009 season and signed by the Florida Marlins.   Another year later, Luna was released by the Marlins and signed by the Boston Red Sox organization. Again, one year later, he was granted free agency before signing with the Phillies in December of 2011. To say it’s been quite a journey for Luna to end up in Philadelphia is putting it mildly. Interesting enough of the 8 organizations Luna has played for he has been in the major leagues for 5 of them, St. Louis, Cleveland, Toronto, Florida and Philadelphia.  

In the parts of the 7 seasons Luna has spent in the big leagues he has played in only 323 games. He has totalled 762 at-bats and 203 hits with a lifetime batting average of .266. He’s hit 14 home runs and has driven in 95 runs. What has kept Luna working is his versatility. He has played every position, except pitcher and catcher, at the major league level. He also acted as the DH at times in the American League. 

As a minor league player Luna has over 4000 plate appearances in parts of 11 seasons, mostly at AAA. He has a career .279 batting average. His big league numbers aren’t much different than his minor league numbers, he just hasn’t been able to stick. This is likely due to his lack of power, only 87 career home runs, and as he’s gotten older his lack of speed. Early in his career he was able to steal bases, 32 in 2002, but hasn’t had more than 7 in any of  the last 5 seasons.

Personal Analysis: The 32 year old Luna is likely a short timer with the Phillies as well. He’s done a decent job filling in at 1st base and occassionally in the outfield in the 12 games he’s played.  He’s presently hitting .300 with one home run and 9 rbi’s. The feeling here is that as people start getting healthy and coming off the disable list that the numbers will catch up to Luna and he will ultimaetely be sent back to Lehigh Valley.  

Tomorrow we will preview Michael Schwimer.

For those that haven’t followed our Phillies Profiles you can see them all in the archives file under “Phillies”.

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