L.J. Mazzilli
| AB | 3434 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .272 |
| OBP | .349 |
| SLG | .395 |
| HR | 69 |
- Full name Lee Louis Mazzilli
- Born 09/06/1990 in Greenwich, CT
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Connecticut
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Drafted in the 4th round (116th overall) by the New York Mets in 2013 (signed for $300,000).
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The son of former major league player and manager Lee Mazzilli, L.J. was a ninth-round pick of the Twins last year but decided to return to Connecticut for his senior season. Scouts generally see him as the same player as last year, though he has shown improvement on defense. He was hitting .348/.398/.507 with 15 doubles in 53 games for the Huskies. He has a good approach, managing at-bats well and making adjustments. He is an average runner with good instincts that help his baserunning. He has a strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, though his power will come more in the form of doubles as he wears out the gaps. His defense was erratic last season, but most scouts now think he can be an average defender at the keystone.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Mets selected Mazzilli's father Lee Sr., an outfielder, in the first round of the 1973 draft. Born in 1990, the year after his father retired, Lee Jr. turned pro 40 years after dad as a fourth-round Connecticut senior in 2013. Though he has no outstanding tool to lean on, Mazzilli brings a hard-nosed style of play to the diamond and is regarded by scouts as a classic overachiever type. He sat out the first 50 games of 2015 after incurring a suspension for recreational drug use. When he returned the field in June, Mazzilli headed to Double-A Binghamton for the first time and showed strong strike-zone and barrel awareness. He didn't hit any home runs at Double-A in 2015, but scouts see enough bat speed and batting-practice evidence to forecast fringe power with plenty of doubles. An average runner who picks his spots to steal bases, Mazzilli is a below-average defender at second base based mostly on not having the softest hands. Average arm strength has allowed him to start games at shortstop and third base in the past, and position versatility could be his ticket to utility role in the majors. Mazzilli could be bound for Binghamton or Triple-A Las Vegas in 2016, depending on how the organizational depth chart shakes out.
Draft Prospects
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The son of former major league player and manager Lee Mazzilli, L.J. was a ninth-round pick of the Twins last year but decided to return to Connecticut for his senior season. Scouts generally see him as the same player as last year, though he has shown improvement on defense. He was hitting .348/.398/.507 with 15 doubles in 53 games for the Huskies. He has a good approach, managing at-bats well and making adjustments. He is an average runner with good instincts that help his baserunning. He has a strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, though his power will come more in the form of doubles as he wears out the gaps. His defense was erratic last season, but most scouts now think he can be an average defender at the keystone. -
The son of former major league player and manager Lee Mazzilli, L.J. has obvious bloodlines to go with his athleticism and offense. He has been a consistent hitter for the Huskies and was batting .325/.392/.557 with nine home runs in 212 at-bats this spring. He stands at a 6-foot-1, 190 pounds and has a good, balanced approach at the plate to go with a direct swing. He can hit to all fields and showed more pop this year, though he will have fringe-average power at best. He profiles best as an offensive-minded second baseman, if he can make the grade defensively. He had 17 errors in 51 games this season, but scouts say he could become passable with development. He tends to sit back on balls, which can cause hops to eat him up and force him to rush throws. His arm is average. He's an average runner and can swipe some bases, but it won't be a big part of his game.
