TMU grad in dream job with Toronto Blue Jays
TMU grad Anthony Lucchese grew up in a family of sports fans. He says his Italian “nonna” has no idea how baseball works – but she watches every Jays game. Today, Lucchese spends nearly every day with the team as a video analyst, and does similar work for the Italian national baseball team. He's pictured above at the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Lucchese)
Ever watched a Jays game and see them challenge a close play?
If so, you’ve seen TMU grad Anthony Lucchese, Bachelor of Commerce ‘19, in action.
As quality assurance analyst, advance scouting/video with Canada’s only MLB team – now in the running for a World Series title for the first time in more than 30 years – Lucchese has a job that comes with serious pressure.
Whenever there’s a close call on a play – whether it’s a runner sliding into home or a catch at the wall – he’s the one who decides if the team will challenge it or not.
And he has only 15 seconds to make the call.
The stakes? There’s only one challenge allowed per game in the regular season, and two during playoffs.
A successful challenge, he says, feels good.
“It’s a nice feeling when we have a play overturned,” he said, noting that a successful challenge can reverse an “out”, or get the team a base hit.
“When coaches and players acknowledge it – it makes me feel part of the team,” added Lucchese, who players, coaches and staff affectionately call “Cheese.”
Above, during a game this past September, a New York Yankees player was ruled “safe”, but after reviewing the play and examining it at the above angle, TMU grad Anthony Lucchese successfully challenged the ruling and had it overturned to “out”. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Lucchese).
Staying cool under pressure
For some, the pressure would be too much. But not for Lucchese.
“I mean, it’s a good thing to have – it shows that the work you’re doing is important,” he said.
He says preparation is critical. Before each game, he studies the plays and every camera angle to ensure he’s ready. For away games, that means new stadiums and camera angles to study and assess.
His efforts pay off.
“The key to being good at the job is, like, you kind of have to have a slow heartbeat. Honestly, if I had an Apple Watch on during a game, you’d laugh, because it would be like I’m barely breathing,” he laughed.
After seven years with the team, including two in this replay role, he’s learned to thrive under pressure.
“People probably won't believe this, but I'm most relaxed when I do replay. I'm in my element. It’s like, that's where I was meant to be.”
Turning edits into insights
In addition to calling a challenge during a game, Lucchese records the games, edits the footage, develops internal reports for coaches and players to prepare for upcoming games, analyzes video and data on opponents to help gain an advantage, and analyzes video and data on the Jays players themselves to help with player development.
Uploading 20 different iPads with everything from various reports on opponents to video of the opposing pitcher is also a big lift on game day.
“If you see a coach with an iPad, chances are, they’re looking at something one of my colleagues or myself analyzed for them,” he says, also praising the team of analysts who work hard to ensure coaches are as prepared as possible each game.
Born for baseball
Similar to Vladdy Guerrero Jr. – who’s “Born ready” comment became a Blue Jays catchphrase – it seems Lucchese, too, was born for this.
In fact, he was born into a family of hockey and baseball fans.
“My parents watch every [Jays] game, whether they're at the stadium or watching on TV if we're on the road,” he says. “Even my 90-year-old Italian ‘nonna’, who doesn't speak much English and has no idea how baseball works – she watches every game.”
Growing up near the Rogers Centre, Lucchese attended games as a kid. Now he’s on the road with the team all year.
“The coaches and the players are like family to me. I’m with them everyday, at every game, both home and away. So like, for this to happen, it's pretty cool… The last time they were in the World Series, I wasn't even born yet,” he said.
Above, a childhood photo of Anthony Lucchese in a Toronto Blue Jays jersey. Today, he’s living his dream as a video analyst for the organization. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Lucchese)
How he got here
While Lucchese seems destined to work in baseball, his experience in the sport didn’t start on the diamond.
“I got into it from playing fantasy baseball with my buddies from high school. I was like, this would be fun to try as a career. And then I kind of fell into it,” he said.
The process to land the job? Pretty straightforward.
“I just applied,” he said, adding, “If anyone ever wants to apply for a job, but they’re not sure they have the experience, just apply. You never know. I’m living proof.”
That advice is partly why Lucchese – a humble guy who normally shies from the spotlight – agreed to this interview.
He says he faced big challenges in university, and he wants others to know that if they’re in the same position, there’s hope.
Success isn’t always a straight line
With a passion for baseball, Lucchese was more a student of the game than anything else.
Academics didn’t come easily.
“Like, if you have access to my GPA, you’d probably cry. I know my mom did,” he joked.
But overcoming those challenges made him more “dependable” and “a better person.”
“I look back and I’m like, ‘I learned a lot of important things’,” he said.
It’s a message he wants other students struggling with lower grades to hear.
“Maybe there's somebody in the same shoes that I was in... Maybe they’ll read this and think, ‘Well, he turned out okay, so, like, there's probably a good chance for me too.’"
Superstitions and the World Series
When it comes to predictions for the World Series Championship title, Lucchese stays cool – and honours his superstitions.
“I sit in the exact same chair. Like, sometimes the cleaners at night will jam them up a little bit and I'll go back and try to find the exact same chair I sat in for the last game they won,” he said.
His clothing matters too.
“Whatever pair of socks we won with, I'll wear the next day. Obviously it gets washed. I'm not gonna wear stinky socks. That'd be gross,” he laughed. He also wears the same hat and sits in his chair at the exact same time.
“I know it’s meaningless, but to me, it means something. Maybe it will help us win. You gotta do your part.”
While he won’t predict the outcome, he says what matters most is seeing how far the team has come.
“Last year, we were in last place. To be where we are now, I've never seen togetherness like this. I’m talking about the players, the coaching staff, whether it's a trainer, the strength guy or the video guy like me.”
“Honestly, I’m so happy for everyone who’s making it to this point for the first time, from the coaches to the players,” he said.
Overall he says the experience is a dream.
“I take a step back sometimes, and I'm like, "Yeah, this is pretty cool. I’m so lucky.”