Lucas Humpal Returns to The Bobcats For Senior Year

By Kyle Spencer
KTSW Sports

Lucas Humpal, right handed pitcher for the Bobcats, had a unique and impressive junior season. Starting with being named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year and ending with being selected in the 2015 MLB Draft. The Corpus Christi native is leaving his hand-prints all over the Texas State Baseball program.

Last season, Humpal racked up a team-high 80 strikeouts with only 35 walks, and earned 5 wins along the way. In the Sun Belt Conference, he tied for second in games started at 16 and recorded 61 strikeouts against Sun Belt opponents earning the second spot among in-conference pitchers. The preseason pitcher of the year also had one complete-game that ended in a win over Appalachian State. About a month after losing to the third seed UL Lafayette in the Sun Belt tournament, Humpal was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 2015 MLB draft.

“Well I’ve been with the same guys here as my freshman year as a couple of guys who have been there for me, so I wanted to come back this year to be there for them,” said Humpal.

A big league contract is enticing. Especially for a young talented player such as Humpal. A decision like that is one that not usually made by only the individual. Humpal was asked what he remembers from draft night and whose counsel he sought after to gain some advice before making a career changing decision.

“I did ask some of the players from the past who have been drafted and get their piece of advice. A lot of people don’t quite know the process of the MLB draft, so it was hard to seek advice who haven’t been through it,” said Humpal.

The MLB can be cruel to the draftee’s. There have been plenty of players with promise that have just come and gone and with so many rounds in the draft (up to 40,) there a lot of players that never even see the field. Humpal was drafted in the 37th round, and he ultimately decided it would be best if he returned home for another year. Returning head coach Ty Harrington spoke about Lucas at a recent press conference.

“Lucas has been one of those guys for us before where he has gotten the baseball against quality teams and pitched at a really, really high level. Professional baseball drafted him last year he chose to come back, and to be a part of this to prove that he feel like he is a better baseball player and to get closer to academically to his degree, also his engineering degree. So all of those things came into play,” Harrington said.

Humpal is returning to a Bobcat squad that experienced a multitude of trials of tribulations in the 2014-2015 season. Now with coach Harrington back in the dugout, this Texas State team has a new found motivation and are eager to start the season. With a professional quality pitcher in Humpal, this Texas State team looks to get back into championship form.