"Just playing in those kinds of situations with those kinds of fans and those teams, it was something I've never experienced before," Lugo said. "When you have thousands of people yelling at you, you're really locked in and focused."
For Lugo, the Classic experience doubled as a roster competition. While Robert Gsellman and Zack Wheeler battled for the Mets' fifth starter's job in Florida, Lugo did so from afar. Mets officials watched on television and took notes, understanding Lugo's challenge in facing the potent lineups of Venezuela and Team USA.