Work Ethic Drives Serra's Lewis

Serra High’s Chris Lewis wasn’t the same player after breaking his foot when he hit first base awkwardly running out a ground ball midway through his junior year.

The Padres middle infielder assumed his aspirations to play Division I baseball were over when his production dropped.

But Lewis played through the injury and never stopped working on his game.

And after a strong showing at a November showcase tournament in Arizona, he signed a letter of intent to play Division I ball at Sacramento State.

“I pride myself in my work ethic,” Lewis said. “It’s in my genes.”

Lewis, who lives in Redwood City, said his father, Richard, who works for a construction company, instilled his work ethic in him at a young age.

“If you’re not in the pros, then obviously you’ve got to work to try to get better,” Lewis said.

Lewis hit a respectable .286 as a junior, but when it became apparent his production tailed off, his playing time was reduced. Lewis, who’d been a starter it just about every level since Little League, admits that was hard to take.

But he now believes the experience was transformative in his personal development.

“It was how it should have been because I wasn’t producing,” he said of losing his fulltime playing status for part of his junior year

“I went through some struggles in my varsity career, but I’m learning from them. They’re like growing pains, but they worked out for the better,” Lewis said.

“Failure makes you stronger in a way, and I guess that’s part of my career.”

His career also has some nice upside, Serra coach Craig Gianinno said.

Lewis, who is projected to be the Padres everyday shortstop this year, is an excellent defensive shortstop who features a plus arm.

He’s worked hard in the weight room in the offseason, and figures to be a more significant power threat than in years past.

Lewis said he takes pride in going full bore on every play, no matter how routine it may seem.

Among the players he’s tried to model his game after is Colorado Rockies slugging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

“If I hit a fly ball that I know is going to be caught, I’m still going to be out there running my hardest,” he said.

Coaches and scouts have taken note of his drive.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player work as hard as he works and I don’t just mean in practice,” Gianinno said. "He’s always doing something to help himself get better. He’s just very focused and he’s become one of the leaders on this team this year.

“He’s a very tough kid. You definitely want him on your side when you compete.”

Lewis’ all-out playing style has earned him his teammates’ respect, too.

“He’s a super hard-nosed player, he’ll do anything he can to help the team,” senior outfielder Andre Mercurio said. “He takes a lot of pride in baseball. You can tell he really cares about the game.”