Carlos Luna (minors02)

Carlos Julian Luna Dominguez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 208 lb.

• Born September 25, 1996 in Las Tablas, Los Santos Panama

BR register page

Biographical Information

Carlos Luna has pitched as high as AAA and has been on the Panamanian national team.

Luna was signed by Milwaukee Brewers scout Clifford Nuitter in 2013. He was 1-2 with three saves and a 3.51 ERA for the 2014 DSL Brewers and had a 4-2, 1.46 record for the same team in 2015. Had he qualified, he would have been fourth in the Dominican Summer League in ERA.

His career was then derailed briefly by injuries that sidelined him in 2016-2017. He returned in 2018, going 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA for the AZL Brewers. He split 2019 between the Rocky Mountain Vibes (3-4, 3.58) and San Antonio Missions (1 R in 5 IP). He led the Pioneer League in ERA (.004 ahead of Jeronimo Castro), tied Brady Schanuel and Alfredo Tavarez for 4th in K (70) and was second in WHIP (1.14, .02 behind Castro). Some sources list him as the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year while others list Miguel Medrano He was left off the league All-Star team as Medrano, Castro, Omar Conoropo, Alfredo Tavarez and Avery Weems were picked as the hurlers.

When the minor league season was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, some teams cut their minor league rosters to save money and Luna was one of the victims. They obviously still wanted him around as they re-signed him for 2021. He split 2021 between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (3-1, 2 Sv, 1.79 ERA, .69 WHIP, 48 K in 40 1/3 IP) and Biloxi Shuckers (1-3, 3.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). He worked the final four innings of a combined no-hitter (with Justin Bullock) against the South Bend Cubs.

Back with Biloxi in '22, he slipped to 5-6, 5.35 with one save, striking out 111 in 109 1/3 IP. He did tie Eduardo Salazar for tenth in the Southern League in whiffs. He then suited up for Panama in the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. He appeared in one game, their clincher over Brazil to wrap up a spot in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (their first World Baseball Classic in 14 years). Relieving James González in the 6th with two on, two out and a 3-0 lead, he retired Tim Lopes on a grounder that stop the threat. In the 7th, he gave up a Leonardo Reginatto double, then got Christian Lopes on a pop-up and struck out Lucas Rojo and Victor Mascai. Enrique Burgos Jr. succeeded him in the 8th.