Tommy La Stella Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1737
AVG	.266
OBP	.337
SLG	.397
HR	40

Full name Thomas F. La Stella
Born 01/31/1989 in Westwood, NJ
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Coastal Carolina
Debut 05/28/2014
Drafted in the 8th round (266th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2011 (signed for $105,000).

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A fourth-year junior who sat out a year after transferring from St. John's, second baseman Tommy La Stella had a strong offensive season and swings the bat with authority from the left side. He's not athletic or strong enough to stay in the infield as a pro and is a bat-only player who figures to play left field, as he did in the Cape Cod League last summer.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

La Stella transferred from St. John's to Coastal Carolina and emerged as a second-team All-American and the Big South Conference player of the year in 2011. Injuries slowed him in 2012 before La Stella put together an impressive season in the Double-A Southern League, where he was ranked as the circuit's No. 16 prospect. La Stella has hit at every level thanks to great hand-eye coordination and above-average bat speed. He has an excellent approach and exceptional feel for the strike zone, which helps him rack up more walks than strikeouts. La Stella also shines as a situational hitter with his ability to advance runners via the hit-and-run or by bunting. He runs the bases well and with intelligence despite not being blessed with great quick-twitch athleticism. Defensively, he makes all of the routine plays at the keystone and has an average arm. Nagging injuries, including an elbow issue this season, have kept him from playing even 100 games in a season. Braves fans are begging for La Stella to get an opportunity to unseat Dan Uggla at second base. Finances could play a role, but his bat appears to be near big league ready if needed.
La Stella began his college career at St. John's before transferring to Coastal Carolina, where he nearly won the Big South Conference triple crown as a redshirt junior in 2011. After signing for $105,000 as an eighth round pick, he shook off a 4-for-31 in pro ball to hit at a .358 clip in his final 55 games. La Stella's calling card is his bat. He hit second in the lineup at Rome and displayed the ability to make consistent hard contact and some surprising pop. He employs an unusual batting stance with his feet close together and his lead foot open before stepping in toward the plate. He has above-average bat speed as well as a discerning eye at the plate. La Stella runs the bases well but isn't blessed with a lot of quickness or athleticism. Because his arm and range are fringy, most scouts believe he'll be hard pressed to remain in the infield at higher levels. He could end up in left field, where he played in the Cape Cod League during the summer of 2010. Ticketed for high Class A in 2012, La Stella will go as far as his bat will take him.

Minor League Top Prospects

The cult of La Stella grew this season as the undersized second baseman won admirers in the SL by continuing to play to his strengths, which are hitting for average, lining the ball into the gaps and walking more often than he strikes out. Multiple scouts called the lefty-swinging La Stella the best pure hitter in the league, with one projecting his big league output along the lines of the Mets? Daniel Murphy, though the body comp doesn?t quite fit. If not for an elbow and hamstring injuries this year?on top of a beaning and broken leg in 2012?La Stella probably would be more highly regarded. La Stella generates plus bat speed from a wide stance, discouraging pitchers from busting him inside with a short, quick stroke and an unflinching mentality against southpaws. He hit .338 against SL lefties this year and has hit .350 against them in 206 pro plate appearances. Scouts expect 7-10 homers a year but with plenty of doubles. A below-average runner with below-average range at the keystone, La Stella has strong instincts, quick hands and a solid arm to help enhance his defense. He led all SL second basemen (min. 50 games at the position) with 2.78 assists per game and ranked second in double plays turned per game.