Next up is Lucius Fox Jr

Next up is Lucius Fox Jr; moreover, we celebrate that Lue has made an MLB team opening day roster. Along with the 2010 Cal Ripkin World Series teammate, Jazz Chisholm Jr, Fox and Chisholm are the first 2 in living memory for the Bahamas to make an MLB opening day roster in the same year.

After a strong finish at triple-A last year, I was looking forward to him making an opening day MLB roster in 2022. As a matter of fact, he had a hit in every one of his last ten games, including five home runs. Hence, he was healthy and playing good baseball for the first time in a while, which showed why he was always a top prospect.

How picture this:

Now picture this; Playing and or competing with your organization’s top #1 prospect; that was Lue with his last two teams. In this case, these players are their team’s future stars, Wander Franco (Rays) and Bobby Witt Jr (Royals). 

Furthermore, after his trade to the Royals in 2020, then came the Covid-19 Pandemic that shut down MLB and most of the world. Hence, that season’s cancellation became a wait-and-see for Fox, later placed on the Royals taxi squad. 

Fox Jr pickup of waivers:

Lucius Fox Jr, pickup of waivers, twice. Photo by Mathew Caper.

According to MLB transactions, on November 19, 2021, the Baltimore Orioles claimed SS Lucius Fox off waivers from the Kansas City Royals. But not so fast; then, on November 30, 2021, the Washington Nationals claimed SS Lucius Fox off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. 

Unfazed by this, I saw Lue at church smiling, and I said to him, teams are waiving you around. However, he told me that he felt good and was ready to go. 

Spring Traning 2022:

At the same time, the players union and the club owners went into a standoff over a new deal for the players. However, things weren’t looking good; the owners locked out the players. The detail of this story is well known, delaying the start of the 2022 spring training season. 

Finally getting into his first 2022 spring game, Fox continued where he left off in 2021, going 1 for 2 with a home run. Again, he was hitting the ball well; at one point, he was 4 for 8. Moreover, when Fox went to triple-A, he was hitting .400 with 1HR, two doubles, and a single. 

Then came the good news:

Fox Jr, Washington National, Photo by Mathew Carper

On 04/07/22, the Washington Nationals recalled SS Lucius Fox from Rochester Red Wings. Oh, happy day for local MLB fans. In this case, a player was placed on the D/L, making room for Lue to get the opening day call. 

Fox renewed chance at Opening Day roster (April 4) 

On Thursday, Lucius Fox embarked on a two-day drive from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Rochester, N.Y., to begin the season with the Triple-A Red Wings. On Sunday, he flew back to the Nationals’ training complex and another chance to make the Opening Day roster — and what would be his Major League debut. (by Jessica Camerato) 

Today was his MLB debut, and here are the highlights from the game.

Fox shows off his flair in his big league debut.

Lucius Fox after helping the Nats get their first win of the season – YouTube.

Jeff Francis

Jeffrey was born on April 29th, 1961, in Nassau, Bahamas to Rejoiner Ann Rolle and Jerome James Francis Etienne. Married to Andrea G. Rolle-Francis, they have two daughters; Janae Latoya Francis, a graduate of Allegany College of Maryland, and Jessica Lee Francis a graduate Potomac State College West Virginia University in Kyser West Virginia. Jeffrey was coaching the sport of baseball from 1980 at the age of 18 years old because he loved the sport as a kid. He started listening to the game over the radio out of Miami Florida in the late 60s and in the early 70s started playing the game locally in various local leagues right up to the premier senior league; a league where all of the current Bahamian minor leaguers played. In 1982, Jeffrey had an invite to a three day tryout with the New York Yankees in Hollywood Florida, which was an awesome experience that is lasting a life time memory for him. Jeffrey has been following the Bahamian baseball players in the minor leagues since 1999 with Angelo Burrows, but found greater interest with the signing of Antoan Richardson in 2005. He also writes a year end review on their play on his Facebook page, Baseball Bahamas, and he has a website with the same name. He has a great following and would love to expose the baseball players to a bigger worldwide audience. He has a good relationship with all the players because he personally coached most of them. His favorite MLB Team is the Detroit Tigers from 1969.

Jeff Francis

Jeffrey was born on April 29th, 1961, in Nassau, Bahamas to Rejoiner Ann Rolle and Jerome James Francis Etienne. Married to Andrea G. Rolle-Francis, they have two daughters; Janae Latoya Francis, a graduate of Allegany College of Maryland, and Jessica Lee Francis a graduate Potomac State College West Virginia University in Kyser West Virginia. Jeffrey was coaching the sport of baseball from 1980 at the age of 18 years old because he loved the sport as a kid. He started listening to the game over the radio out of Miami Florida in the late 60s and in the early 70s started playing the game locally in various local leagues right up to the premier senior league; a league where all of the current Bahamian minor leaguers played. In 1982, Jeffrey had an invite to a three day tryout with the New York Yankees in Hollywood Florida, which was an awesome experience that is lasting a life time memory for him. Jeffrey has been following the Bahamian baseball players in the minor leagues since 1999 with Angelo Burrows, but found greater interest with the signing of Antoan Richardson in 2005. He also writes a year end review on their play on his Facebook page, Baseball Bahamas, and he has a website with the same name. He has a great following and would love to expose the baseball players to a bigger worldwide audience. He has a good relationship with all the players because he personally coached most of them. His favorite MLB Team is the Detroit Tigers from 1969.