Luke Hochevar is a former American professional baseball pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals for the majority of his career. He was born on September 15, 1983, in Denver, Colorado, and attended the University of Tennessee, where he played college baseball for the Volunteers.
Hochevar was drafted first overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2005 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the team. Instead, he returned to college for his senior year and was drafted again in 2006, this time by the Kansas City Royals.
Hochevar made his Major League debut with the Royals in 2007 and spent the next nine seasons with the team. He was primarily used as a starting pitcher, but also made appearances out of the bullpen. In 2013, he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season.
Hochevar's best season came in 2013, when he posted a 1.92 ERA in 58 appearances out of the bullpen. He was a key member of the Royals' bullpen during their run to the World Series in 2014 and their championship season in 2015.
In 2016, Hochevar struggled with injuries and was limited to just 40 appearances. He became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017, but was released before the start of the season.
Hochevar announced his retirement from baseball in March 2018. Over the course of his career, he posted a 4.98 ERA with 628 strikeouts in 858 innings pitched. He was known for his fastball, which could reach speeds of up to 97 miles per hour, as well as his slider and curveball.
Off the field, Hochevar was known for his charitable work. He and his wife, Ashley, founded the Hochevar's Heroes program, which provided tickets and other experiences for military families and children with life-threatening illnesses.
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