By Kourage Kundahl

Lutz spent parts of three seasons in Pensacola, playing 128 games with the Wahoos.

It seemed like only yesterday that a fresh-faced Donald Lutz joined Pensacola from High-A Bakersfield. The slugger was one of the organization’s best hitters when he debuted on July 17, 2012, and his raw power was apparent from the start. He drove a 2–0 offering onto the berm in his first at-bat, but the nuances of Double-A pitching kept him on his toes. Early stumbles, however, gave way to a respectable first tour and eventually one of the Wahoos’ most reliable bats.

The German prospect didn’t need long to win fans over, from his towering home runs to endearing personality. “I had to Google that one,” Lutz said of the Blue Wahoo moniker upon his promotion. After three years of service, Lutz embodied the qualities of that bold fighting fish with a fierce swing and passion for the game. He also leaves as the franchise leader with 18 home runs, adding a career .266 batting average.

We’ll miss him for sure, but he’s in good hands with the Triple-A Louisville Bats. Hitting .360 in 23 games this season, his hot bat was due for a promotion. Now, his opposite-field splashdowns might not but coming back, but you can relive them on the blog for eternity.

Thanks for a tremendous three years, Donald.

MiLB.tv: A history of the #HULKSMASH

Donald Lutz was one of four Wahoos to go yard on Opening Day 2013.

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Game-changer: April 8 belongs to the Wahoos as this three-run blast breaks a fifth-inning tie.

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Down 2–0 in the first? Not anymore, you’re not.

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Lutz didn’t just hit his first home run on April 7, but absolutely crushed it out of the park.

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Two strikes, two outs…and a two-run home run smacked to the opposite field.

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The outfielder displays textbook execution on his final blast, a one-run beauty in Birmingham.

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Photo Gallery: Lutz not soon forget

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