An old dog in a new wave

Since call-up last month, 30-year-old Lukes has done nothing but hit

- MIKE WILNER

Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes has a .435 average and a 1.035 OPS percentage since being called up from Buffalo on Aug. 30.

TODAY

Mets at Blue Jays 3 p.m. (Sportsnet)

The Blue Jays have gone full youth movement since gutting the team at the July 30 trade deadline, and the kids have brought an energy and enthusiasm that wasn’t seen around these parts earlier in the season.

They have become fun to watch again, if not successful — Tuesday’s 6-2 win over the New York Mets was just their second victory in September — and, ironically, the “kid” who has been tearing it up the most over the last couple of weeks is one of the oldest players on the team.

Thirty-year-old Nathan Lukes (pronounced Lucas) was finally called up Aug. 30, three weeks after returning from thumb surgery that had him on the sidelines for two months, and is batting .435 with the big club. A double, a triple and four walks have helped him to a 1.035 OPS.

The numbers, in a small sample of 28 plate appearances, are gaudy but not a huge surprise. Since the Jays signed the Oregonian to a minor-league contract before the 2022 season, all he has done is hit.