Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Lucas Erceg opened up about his ongoing fight with alcohol addiction during a talk on Thursday at the Boonville Correctional Center. Marking five years of sobriety on June 9, Erceg chose to share his personal story with inmates who face similar challenges, highlighting the difficulties and triumphs of overcoming addiction.
Growing up in Campbell, California, Erceg found baseball to be an escape from a troubled upbringing that included an alcoholic mother and abuse at home. Despite his talent leading him to become a first-team All-Pac-12 player in college, Erceg battled harmful habits such as heavy drinking, skipping classes, and suicidal thoughts, which eventually caused him to drop out of school.
“I always used baseball as an outlet to kind of get away from all that and just go out and compete,” Erceg said via ESPN. “I had natural abilities, and I had that natural fire, that natural competitor in me that kind of took me to the next level quickly.
“But I wasn’t a man, you know what I mean? I didn’t make the right decisions. And I think that’s when alcoholism kind of imploded on me and took over who I was as a person.”
Last year, after joining the Royals, Erceg was invited by Tristram Sean McCormack, chaplain at the correctional center, to speak about his recovery path at Hope Chapel. This opportunity allowed him to connect directly with individuals confronting their own battles.
Erceg’s Wife Emma Plays Crucial Role in Confronting His Alcoholism
Following his time at Menlo College and being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016, Erceg’s alcohol problems persisted. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, his wife Emma, whom he married in 2022 after six years together, discovered 15 empty beer cans at their home, a sign of how serious his addiction was becoming.
When Emma witnessed the depth of Erceg’s decline, she issued a firm ultimatum demanding sobriety within two weeks or she would leave him. This moment became a turning point for him, forcing Erceg to confront his addiction head-on before his life spiraled further out of control.
“Looking back on it now … I was constantly putting myself in the worst position possible to have success but still able to find that success just so I can say, ‘Hey, I did that. I did that on my own,'” Erceg said. “I didn’t need any help. I didn’t ask for help. I didn’t want help. I was kind of flipping people the bird when they reached out their hand.”
Erceg began his sobriety journey on June 10, 2020, without entering rehab, opting instead for a cold-turkey approach. This difficult period resulted in him losing nearly 40 pounds, becoming gaunt, and temporarily losing his appetite even for water.
He keeps the date “6/10/2020” marked on his baseball glove, serving as a constant reminder of the moment he started reclaiming control over his life and wellbeing.
The Broader Impact of Erceg’s Sobriety Journey
Lucas Erceg’s openness about his alcoholism battle journey offers a powerful example of vulnerability and resilience. By sharing his story publicly, especially in a correctional facility, he highlights how addiction can affect people from all backgrounds and how recovery is possible even without traditional treatment routes.
His experience underscores the importance of support systems, such as his wife Emma’s intervention and the outreach by chaplain Tristram McCormack. Erceg’s candid discussion offers hope and encourages others facing similar struggles to seek change.
As Erceg continues his career with the Kansas City Royals, his story also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges many athletes confront behind the scenes. His commitment to sobriety remains a vital part of both his personal life and professional focus moving forward.