Mike Papi
| AB | 1989 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .236 |
| OBP | .35 |
| SLG | .387 |
| HR | 55 |
- Full name Michael Joseph Papi
- Born 09/19/1992 in Tunkhannock, PA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Virginia
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Drafted in the CB-A round (38th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2014 (signed for $1,250,000).
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The Angels drafted Papi in the 30th round out of a Pennsylvania high school in 2011 and Papi joined fellow Keystone State product Derek Fisher in the Cavs outfield as a freshman. He lost playing time due to back soreness and his own passivity at the plate, but earned a spot and then All-America recognition with a monster sophomore year, when he ranked second in the country with a .517 on-base percentage. Papi has retained his selectivity and had a streaky junior season, at times pressing when Fisher was injured and out of the lineup. His swing isn't as pure as Fisher's but he has present strength in his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. He had eight home runs, including four at Virginia's cavernous Davenport Field, and scouts give him plus power grades. He's a below-average runner and fringy athlete who has had some adventures in left field and may fit better at first base.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Papi had a productive college career at Virginia and helped the Cavaliers to a runner-up finish at the 2014 College World Series. Scouts viewed him as an advanced hitter, and the Indians agreed, selecting him 38th overall in the 2014 draft and sending him to high Class A Lynchburg for his full-season debut in 2015. But Papi struggled to make the transition to pro ball, particularly after suffering a thumb injury at the end of 2014. It took him a while to regain his strength, though he was driving the ball better in the second half of 2015. Despite his struggles, Papi retained his excellent plate discipline and pitch recognition, and he led all Indians minor leaguers with 80 walks. He has a balanced lefthanded swing but can drive the ball, particularly to his pull side. Papi primarily played first base as a junior at Virginia, but the Indians returned him to the outfield, where he played earlier in his career. His arm and athleticism are both good enough to make him a capable left fielder. Papi will enter 2016 fully healthy and will be eager to prove he can get back on track now that his injury is behind him. -
Papi turned down the Angels as a 30th-round pick out of high school and went on to star at Virginia. He won the Atlantic Coast Conference batting title at .381 his sophomore year and tied for the league's home run lead with 11 as a junior, when his Virginia team spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the country and advanced to the College World Series finals before losing to Vanderbilt. The 38th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Papi signed with Cleveland in early July for $1.25 million. Papi already had a professional approach while he was in college, proving to be an intelligent, selective hitter. When he does swing, he makes consistent hard contact and looks to spray the ball all over the field. Virginia's cavernous home ballpark suppressed his power production, but he has strength and has earned plus power grades from scouts in the past. Papi began his college career in the outfield but mainly played first base for Virginia in 2014. The Indians at least want to give him a shot in the outfield again, because he's a fair athlete who posts occasional average run times to first base. He threw 90 mph off the mound in high school, so his arm plays in the outfield also. First base will always be a fallback option for Papi, but his bat is advanced enough that he could move through the system quickly. He, Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier should form an exciting heart of the order at high Class A Lynchburg in 2015.
Draft Prospects
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The Angels drafted Papi in the 30th round out of a Pennsylvania high school in 2011 and Papi joined fellow Keystone State product Derek Fisher in the Cavs outfield as a freshman. He lost playing time due to back soreness and his own passivity at the plate, but earned a spot and then All-America recognition with a monster sophomore year, when he ranked second in the country with a .517 on-base percentage. Papi has retained his selectivity and had a streaky junior season, at times pressing when Fisher was injured and out of the lineup. His swing isn't as pure as Fisher's but he has present strength in his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. He had eight home runs, including four at Virginia's cavernous Davenport Field, and scouts give him plus power grades. He's a below-average runner and fringy athlete who has had some adventures in left field and may fit better at first base.
