Outfielder Luke Raley was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Lake Eric College in Painesville, Ohio. Raley is only the second player to ever be drafted out of Lake Eric College. Versatile infielder, Ryan Rua, was the other drafted in the 17th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers. What is special for both of these players is that they were playing for a Division II school and both helped raise the profile of LEC. Even more special for Raley is the fact he was selected in the top-10 rounds and was the first Division II player to be selected in the 2016 draft.

Raley is a native of Hinckley, Ohio, which is a township in Medina County in Ohio. The 6’3”/220-pound outfielder attended Highland High School in Medina helping the Hornets win their first Suburban Championship since 1989.

Following his graduation, he majored in Special Education at Lake Eric College and gained national prominence with a monster junior year in which he hit .424 with an on-base percentage of .528. Raley had 67 hits in 158 at-bats, including 11 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs. He scored 54 times, drove in 39 runs, stole 12 bases and walked 28 times.

Although Raley claims he was not expecting to be drafted, he was hedging his bets just a bit. He explained: “I had sat down and talked with a couple of scouts and heard what they had to say. They don’t say much but overall, it looked good to be drafted by someone. I didn’t expect it but there was a good chance in my head.”

His college coach, Brian McGee was fully behind Raley and encouraged him to sign with the Dodgers.

“No, it was more of a pretty easy decision. I talked it over with Coach McGee and he saw it as a great opportunity,” said Raley. “He really pushed me to go and I think it was being with the Dodgers and how they go about things. All of that made it easier to decide.”

“There isn’t a more deserving guy I know,” said Raley’s college coach Brian McGee. “I’m not talking about just being a great person, which he is, I’m taking about the passion in which he plays with while dominating the game.”

Luke Raley at spring training 2017.
(Photo courtesy of @LukeRaley)

Luke Raley began his professional career with the Arizona League Dodgers on June 20, 2016 in a game against the Arizona League White Sox. He had three hit and 10 in his first five games as a professional. After his fifth game in the Arizona League he was moved up to the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League.

The inimitable Yogi Berra would tell us it was, “Déjà vu all over again,” as the now 22-year-old Raley again produced 10 hits in five games.

In doing so he very quickly found out what the Dodgers meant in a conversation they had with him.

“The Dodgers told us on how the organization is run. It basically is if you are performing, you get to move.”

Exactly 12 days after beginning his professional baseball career, he started in center field for the Great Lakes Loons of the Class-A Midwest League.

Playing for three teams in a short span of time, after a full college season, seemed to wear him down a bit and had the normal effect on his power. He finished with a .245 batting average with the Loons and a .313 OBP. However, the outgoing right-handed hitter made a definite impression on the Dodger staff, both on and off the field.

Former Loons manager Gil Velazquez told The News Herald, “I can see him as a leader,” Velazquez said. “I see him as a leader not only because he’s a high-energy guy, but plays the game right and he’s vocal. He does speak out, which is good.”

Luke Raley was asked what has been the best advice, instruction, or criticism he has received from the Dodgers?

“I think the best thing is that the Dodgers not only focus on improving you as a baseball player, but also focus on making you the best person you can be and becoming the best teammate you can be.”

A refreshed Raley will begin the 2017 season with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League and then move on up.