Michael Gigliotti Plays To His Strengths

Outfielder Michael Gigliotti made a terrific first impression, hitting two home runs on June 22 for Rookie-level Burlington in his pro debut.

But it was misleading. Gigliotti’s game is not power—he hit just two home runs the rest of the season—but rather speed, gap power and excellent defense in center field.

A 2017 fourth-round pick out of Lipscomb, Gigliotti hit .329/.442/.477 in 42 games with Burlington. He ranked third in the Appalachian League in on-base percentage, stolen bases (15) and walks (32). The Royals promoted him to low Class A Lexington on Aug. 9, and he finished the season with a .320 average to go with 41 strikeouts and 40 walks.

“He has good at-bats, makes contact and doesn’t give away at-bats,” scouting director Lonnie Goldberg said. “He can really go get it in center field . . . He can steal bases. He’s an energetic-type player. He walks more than he strikes out. He always has a smile on his face. He loves to play. He fits what we needed.”

Now 21, Gigliotti is 6-foot-1 and weighed just 145 pounds heading into his senior year at Archbishop McCarthy High in Southwest Ranches, Fla.

“I really didn’t start blossoming until my senior year,” Gigliotti said. “. . . My senior year I grew maybe an inch and put on 30 pounds. I still wasn’t big, but I got stronger.”

He said larger universities began to contact him his senior season.

“I was already committed to Lipscomb, so I wasn’t going to de-commit then,” he said. “My senior year, these big schools started talking to me, but I wanted to keep to my original school.”

He led the NCAA in bunt singles with 22 in 2015 and 17 in 2016. He was one of three Lipscomb players drafted in June.

Gigliotti was named the Cape Cod League prospect of the year in 2016, when he hit .310/.404/.426 for Falmouth.

“The Cape League really helped me, really opened up a lot of eyes,” Gigliotti said. “. . . It was one of the best times of my life.”

Gigliotti believes the spacious Kauffman Stadium outfield in Kansas City would play right into his game.

“I feel like I can go there in center field and patrol out there,” Gigliotti said, “(there is) a lot of ground to cover, and that’s what I love.

“It goes with my offense as well. Doubles into the gaps turn into triples.”

Gigliotti hopes to jump to high Class A Wilmington next season.