Lance McCullers '12 - World Champion

Jesuit High School alumnus Lance McCullers '12 completed an extraordinary 2017 season this week by helping the Houston Astros win their first World Series.

McCullers was the starting pitcher in Houston's 5-1 Game 7 win in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Nov. 1) night, going 2 1/3rd innings and allowing no runs as the first of five Houston pitchers used to secure the victory.

The world championship triumph culminated a dream season for McCullers and added to the legacy of Jesuit baseball, which includes the likes of Hall of Famer Al Lopez '27, World Series-winning player and manager Lou Piniella '61, Dave Magadan '80, Brad Radke '91, and Shane Robinson '03. (See full list of Jesuit alumni to play Major League Baseball below.)

This year, McCullers was selected to the American League All-Star team, and in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series two weeks ago he earned a historic 4-inning save against the Yankees, allowing just 1 hit and 0 runs.

On Wednesday, at age 24 years and 1 month, McCullers became the youngest starting pitcher in a World Series Game 7 in 15 years, and, with an RBI groundout, he also knocked in a critical run in his only at bat, the first RBI by an AL pitcher in the World Series in eight years.

McCullers had a phenomenal career at Jesuit, earning the Gatorade National Player of the Year award as well as the Jackie Robinson award his senior season. He holds the school record for ERA in a season, 0.18 in 2012.

McCullers also has distinguished himself by living out the Jesuit motto of "Men for Others." His foundation has provided critical assistance in the Houston area in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. In 2016, McCullers was the Astros' nominee for Major League Baseball's prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes players for community service.

JESUIT ALUMNI WHO HAVE PLAYED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Sam Dyson ’06
Al Lopez ’27
Dave Magadan ’80
Sam Marsonek ’96
Lance McCullers ’12
Jason Michaels ’94   
Lou Piniella ’61  
Kevin Quackenbush ’07
Brad Radke ‘91
Shane Robinson ’03
Ken Suarez ’61
Marc Valdes ’90  

Click here for the Baseball Reference webpage of Jesuit's MLB alumni, with statistics from their MLB careers.