PEORIA, Ariz. —
Joey Lucchesi beat every single pitcher selected in the 2016 draft class to the majors. That first big league start arrived a little more than a year after his California League debut. Because the Padres had grown weary of plugging journeymen into the rotation over developing their own homegrown arms, some lessons have been harder to work into the syllabus than others during a hurried sprint to San Diego.
Like pitching deeper into games.
The 26-year-old Lucchesi understands precisely why the leash has been so tight.
He also believes some growing pains could have served him well.