Lewis Setting Big Goals Ahead of Junior Season
After an outstanding season as a redshirt sophomore, Kentucky pitcher Justin Lewis saw his stock rise significantly. As a result of his big 2017 season, Lewis was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 11th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft. At that point, most assumed that Lewis’ career in the blue and white was over.
But Lewis had other ideas. He declined the Rays’ offer and decided to return to Lexington for his junior year. But there were a few moments when he almost made the jump to the pros.
“There was a point, I was close,” Lewis said. “My mom and I were down in Tampa negotiating. At the end of the day, it just didn’t work out.”
Lewis made the decision to return to Kentucky based on the long-term implications rather than the short-term ones.
“I was talking to my mom, talking to coach (Nick Mingione) and Coach (Jim) Belanger,” Lewis said. “It was in my best interest to come back. I really enjoy the University of Kentucky. Education is important to my family and I graduate in May. Weighing all of those, it made it an easier decision to come back.”
Individual goals played a role in the decision, but the chance to be part of a national championship contender also weighed in for Lewis.
“I felt like I had more to work on and more to improve, and the chance to play in Omaha and win a national championship with a good core group of guys,” Lewis said. “All of those weighed in and helped me with that decision.”
Now that he’s back, Lewis is not resting on his laurels. After going 6-4 last season with a 3.56 ERA, the right-hander wanted to add a third pitch to go with his 90-plus fastball and his nasty changeup.
“(Mingione) always talks about my changeup and continuing to develop a third pitch and that would help me be a better pitcher as a whole,” Lewis said. “I’ve gotten stronger, I’ve put on about 10 or 15 pounds since the end last season. Just helping my durability and helping me get stronger, all of that goes into that decision.”
That third pitch is a slider that catcher Troy Squires thinks can make Lewis even more dominant.
“J-Lew is known for his changeup,” Squires said. “(The slider) comes out of the same slot as his fastball and his slider, except his changeup goes one way and his slider goes the other way. It’s becoming one of his better pitches and he’s way more confident with it.”
Lewis, a native of Atlanta, has worked hard on the slider and he’s confident in it as he heads into 2018.
“It’s coming along well,” he said of his third pitch. “I’ve been working with Coach Belanger all fall and into the spring, working with different slider grips and learning to throw with conviction. It really helped me this fall. I’m excited to throw it this season. I’m very comfortable with it. I can throw it in any count.”
Lewis is looking forward to joining Sean Hjelle and Zack Thompson in what should be one of the country’s best rotations.
“Hjelle, SEC Pitcher of the Year, Zack Thompson is going to be an amazing pitcher,” Lewis said. “I think our rotation is going to be one of the best in the country. I can’t wait to see how we do this year.”
The Kentucky staff and team are glad Lewis said no to the majors and returned to Lexington for what could be a big season in Lexington.
