Lucas attended Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, and Dartmouth College. He graduated from Dartmouth in 2004 with a degree in sociology and economics. Lucas played college baseball for Dartmouth under head coach Bob Whalen; and also played American football in his freshman year. Lucas won the Ivy League batting title as a senior, and was named Ivy League Player of the Year and received honors as Dartmouth's Most Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year.

The Kansas City Royals selected Lucas in the eighth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. As Lucas could not return to college, he had little leverage in negotiations, and received a $1,000 signing bonus. He made his minor league baseball debut with the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, and earned $101 a month after expenses. Needing to work during the offseason, Lucas took jobs in construction, substitute teaching, bartending, and as a temp for the Charles Schwab Corporation.