Who is Luis Medina? Oakland A's rookie's lazy play goes viral on the internet

The Oakland Athletics' 2023 season has been plagued by difficulties, and one game against the Nationals perfectly captured their struggles. Pitcher Luis Medina highlighted the team's difficulties with a mental lapse.

Medina failed to make a crucial play after fielding a 100 mph fastball hit back to the mound.

Luis Medina fields a ground ball and proceeds to not record the out. by u/rosieDMDL in baseball

Washington shortstop Ildemaro Vargas was given a second chance after Medina failed to throw the ball to get the out. Vargas sprinted to first base, scoring a run for the Nationals with an infield single.

Medina's mistake served as a microcosm of the Athletics' more significant difficulties. With a 33-83 record, the Athletics are the worst team in MLB.

Luis Medina's MLB career

Luis Medina

Luis Medina's perseverance and talent are evident in his rise to the major leagues with the Oakland Athletics. In 2023, the pitcher from the Dominican Republic made his MLB debut while sporting the Athletics' green and gold.

After signing as an international free agent with the New York Yankees in 2015, Medina started his baseball career there and gradually developed his game.

The foundation for his future endeavors was laid by his professional debut in 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Yankees. In a significant trade, Medina changed teams in 2022, joining the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators and showcasing his potential.

He had a strong start to the 2023 season with a 3.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts in just over 9 innings before being promoted to the major leagues. A significant turning point in Medina's career occurred when he made his long-awaited major league debut against the Los Angeles Angels.