This isn't Lucas Erceg's first trip back to American Family Field.
The current Kansas City Royals reliever checked that box a couple seasons ago, when he was a member of the Oakland A's.
Erceg was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round in 2016 as a power-hitting third baseman, but injury and a battle with alcohol abuse derailed his career.
He topped out at Class AAA San Antonio in 2019 before switching gears and moving to the mound, with his experience as a former college closer and 100-mph fastball making him an intriguing prospect.
That arm talent led to Oakland acquiring Erceg for cash considerations, and two days later he made his major-league debut. Three weeks after that he was pitching against the Brewers in Milwaukee and registered the first two holds of his career on consecutive days, helping the A's to an unexpected sweep.
Erceg, of course, was hit by the convergences in the midst of it all.
"I got done with my (first) inning, it was just kind of being able to soak it all in," Erceg, 29, said prior to Tuesday's game. "I remember getting drafted and the Brewers flew me out here to sign my contract with David Stearns, and just looking down from the front offices, thinking, 'This is my future. That's where I'm going to play for the next 15 years.'
"Funny, how things work out. At that time, I didn't imagine myself being a pitcher. More going backside off of Max Scherzer, hitting an oppo double and getting to second and doing my whole thing to the dugout.
"Man, baseball has a funny way of bringing you back to the places where you kind of envisioned yourself."
Erceg, who recalled he signed on the same day as Brewers 2016 fourth-round pick Corbin Burnes, went on to log a 4.75 ERA in 50 appearances in 2023, then pitched well enough in the first half of 2024 that he was traded to the Royals as they girded themselves for a playoff run.
In 61 games between the two teams, Erceg posted a 3.36 ERA, WHIP of 1.05 and 14 saves over 61 appearances. This season with Kansas City, he's expected to fill a late-inning role along with Carlos Estévez on a Royals team again expected to compete in the American League Central.
Considering the arm Erceg possesses and the amount of time the Brewers had invested in developing him, why didn't they ultimately keep him?
"I had an upward clause in my contract," said Erceg, who was ultimately acquired for cash from Oakland. "Essentially, the Brewers either had to put me on the 40-man to protect me or give me the opportunity, and the A's wanted to pick me up. At the time, the Brewers had, I think, four or five guys in the Triple-A bullpen all on the 40 man, and I was kind of the odd guy out, right?
"I don't think the Brewers saw me in the picture at that specific time."
In retrospect, it's a transaction the Brewers wouldn't make now. But, with pitchers ahead of him on the depth chart and Erceg lacking in experience, the team did what it thought was best at the time – and Erceg made the most of his opportunity.
"Like I said, there were four or five guys on the 40-man and they were like, 'Hey, this guy's been working his butt off. We want him to have the opportunity, even if it's not with us,'' he said. "The A's wanted me, so the Brewers were like, 'Go do your thing, and best of luck to you.'
"I thought it was a classy move by the Brewers. Ever since I got drafted, they treated with me with nothing but respect. And ...
