JOURNAL SPORTS

Bossier City native Seth Lugo, a Parkway High School and Centenary College product whose outstanding 2024 Major League Baseball season earned him an All-Star Game appearance, is this year’s winner of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl’s Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award.

The honor is presented annually to an accomplished athlete or sports figure from the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

“It’s an honor to be named Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year,” said Lugo, who starred for the Kansas City Royals. “As someone from Shreveport-Bossier, it is really special to be recognized with this award, especially with all of the talent that has come out of the area.”

Lugo, 34, just completed his ninth season in Major League Baseball, and it was the best season of his career. In his first season with the Royals, Lugo won the Gold Glove Award for American League pitchers, was named to the AL All-Star team and All-MLB Second Team, and was named one of the three finalists for the AL Cy Young Award – given to the best pitcher in the AL.

Lugo won a career-high 16 games with a 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.25 FIP and 181 strikeouts in a career-high 206.2 innings. He ranked seventh in pitching WAR, 10th in ERA, tied for third in wins, second in innings pitched, 10th in FIP and fifth in ERA+. In nine seasons in the big leagues, Lugo has a record of 56-40 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3.57 FIP and 829 strikeouts in 847.2 innings.

“Seth [Lugo] embodies what this award is all about. His hard work and perseverance show young kids from our area what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it, both on and off the field,” said 2024 Independence Bowl Foundation Chair Claire Rebouche. “We are very proud of all the accomplishments and accolades Seth has earned, and we are thrilled to add to that list with the 2024 Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award.

The path to stardom was not easy for Lugo. After pitching in just eight games in his freshman year at Centenary, Lugo met with then-associate head coach Mike Diaz, who planned to kick him off the team. Lugo asked him for another chance, and it was granted. He went on to post a career 5.36 ERA in three seasons at Centenary before becoming a 34th-round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. 

After being the 1,032nd player selected, Lugo pitched 46.2 innings in rookie ball for the Kingsport Mets, but he suffered another setback he needed to overcome. Lugo missed the 2012 season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. He returned to pitch in the minor leagues in 2013 and worked his way through the minor leagues, finally getting his chance in MLB in 2016 at age 26. He pitched 64 innings – rotating between the starting rotation and the bullpen – for the Mets that season and posted a 2.67 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. 

Lugo pitched for seven seasons for the Mets – serving as both a starter and bullpen arm the majority of that time. He was a very effective pitcher in his time in Queens. In seven years, he posted a 32-24 record with a 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 16 saves and 508 strikeouts in 494.2 innings. The Bossier City native finally got his chance as a full-time starting pitcher in 2023 at the age of 33 – signing a two-year, $15 million deal with the San Diego Padres. Lugo showed he could be a great starter in the MLB by posting a 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 140 strikeouts over 146.1 innings with the Padres.

Following the 2023 season, Lugo declined his player option and signed the biggest contract of his MLB career – a two-year, $30 million deal with the Royals. Lugo and the Royals benefited, as he enjoyed the best season of his career while helping lead the Royals to their first playoff berth since 2015. 

Lugo will be honored as the 39th recipient of the Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award at the Independence Bowl on Saturday, December 28.

The “Sportsperson of the Year” award annually highlights some of the greatest athletes and sports figures from the local area who have shined a light on Shreveport-Bossier City through their contributions on and off the field. Lugo joins an esteemed list to have been honored with this award – including fellow MLB players Scott Baker (2007) and Todd Walker (1998); NFL players Joe Delaney (2021), Dak Prescott (2019), Morris Claiborne (2013) and Arnaz Battle (2002); professional golfers Sam Burns (2014), David Toms (1997) and Hal Sutton (1983); and sportscasters Bob Griffin (2000) and Tim Brando (1992). 

Current LSU women’s basketball star Mikaylah Williams, a Parkway High School standout, was the 2022 recipient. Last year’s award went to another LSU standout and local product, baseball slugger Hayden Travinski, an Airline High product who also played in high school at Loyola College Prep before helping the Tigers win the 2023 College World Series crown.