From MiLB
Breakout prospect: Tommy La Stella, 2B
La Stella was lighting up college pitching through his first two years at Coastal Carolina before a 2011 NCAA rule change made the familiar "ping" of the college ranks disappear in favor of bats that behave more like wood. That did not matter much to La Stella.
"That was one of the things our scout said when we drafted him," Richardson said. "That was right around the time when they changed the bats in college. Our guys said that he was still able to drive the ball all over, even with that change."
The Braves selected La Stella in the eighth round that year with the second baseman coming off a Big South Player of the Year season and a second-team All-American selection. His bat has spoken loudly since.
A career .327 hitter with an impressive .908 OPS through three Minor League seasons, La Stella is poised to move up for the first time to Gwinnett, where he'll continue working on his defensive acumen. He'll bring the experience of his first Major League action with him.
"He had a chance to go to big league camp this year to really learn a lot about himself," Richardson said. "Not only that, but he learned a lot from the veteran players."
La Stella batted .255 in 20 games this spring with the big club. Despite a series of nagging injuries that have limited him to a career high of 90 games in a single season, La Stella is pushing the envelope to compete for the Braves' second-base job.
"His bat is there right now, and we really feel that he can be an average defender at the Major League level and contribute soon."
--------
THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE
CLASS AAA
Durham 7, Gwinnett 6
Mejia 1-2, 2 R, BB, 3 RBIs, HR (1st) in 1st inning after two BB; Constanza 1-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 SB; JoeT 1-4, R, RBI, BB; La Stella 1-3, RBI; Hamilton 1-3, RBI, BB.
SP: Gavin Floyd 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, HR;
Maya 2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER (3R), 5 K, HR.
LP: Lamm (0-1) 2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.
Note: 3 Braves Ps allowed HR.
CLASS AA
Mobile 6, Mississippi 2
LP: Mike Minor (0-1) 1st: K, K, HR, 3B, 1B, 2B, F4. Minor gave up cycle in 1st! 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 K.
Batista 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 0 K.
Simmons 1 IP, 2 K.
Hefflinger 1-3, RBI; Landoni 1-4, RBI; Hunter 1-1, R (PH).
ADVANCED CLASS A
Frederick 6, Lynchburg 2
LP: Lucas Sims (0-1) 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K; Waszak 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Peraza 2-4, 2B; Skinner 2-3, 2 R, HR (1st), RBI; Hyams 2-3, RBI; Wren 2-4.
CLASS A
Hagerstown 4, Rome 0
LP: Lafreniere (0-1) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Swanner 1 IP, 1H, 0 R, 1 K.
Brown 1-3, 2B; Carmargo 1-3, BB; Meneses 1-4.
LATE MOVES: Buchter optioined to Gwinnett to make room for Beato. P Andrew Russell (quad) placed on 7-day DL for Gwinnett.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by DaneHill
