Rennie Heading Back To Affiliated Baseball With Mets

The New York Mets have signed right-handed pitcher Luc Rennie.

“Luc is a true Frontier League success story,” Evansville manager Andy McCauley said. “After his release by Baltimore, he needed a venue to get back into form.

“I have to give credit to Max Peterson for working endlessly with him and credit Luc for his tireless work ethic.”

Rennie, a San Diego, Calif. native, joined the Otters before the 2016 season and he made 13 appearances on the mound for Evansville last year with 12 starts. In 77 1/3 innings in 2017, he stuck out 66 batters while finishing with a 7-5 record and 2.91 ERA.

In 10 starts for Evansville this season, Rennie was 4-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 62 1/3 innings. At the time of his signing with the Mets, Rennie led the Frontier League in strikeouts with 70.

“He deserves this opportunity,” McCauley said. “We wish him the best of luck with the Mets organization.”

On June 25, Rennie was named the Frontier League Pitcher of the Week after he went a season-high eight innings while striking out a career-high 12 batters in a 6-0 victory over Southern Illinois June 22.

He was drafted in the 16th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft from Torrey Pines High School in San Diego by the Orioles and split time between Frederick, Delmarva and Aberdeen from 2012-15.

He has pitched 221 1/3 innings in affiliated baseball, winning 11 games and striking out 188 in four seasons.

Rennie is the 71st player in Otters franchise history to sign with a MLB organization out of Evansville and he is the first since December when Ryan Etsell was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Evansville returns to Bosse Field Tuesday, July 17, at 6:35 p.m. for the first of three against Lake Erie.