Tommy La Stella

Tommy La Stella
La Stella with the Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs – No. 2
Second baseman
Born: January 31, 1989 Westwood, New Jersey
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 28, 2014, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics (through April 24, 2016)
Batting average	.260
Home runs	4
Runs batted in	45
Teams
Atlanta Braves (2014) Chicago Cubs (2015–present)

Thomas F. La Stella (born January 31, 1989) is an Italian-American professional baseball second baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2014.

Early life and career

Born in Westwood, New Jersey to Phil and Jane La Stella on January 31, 1989, Tommy La Stella and two siblings grew up in nearby Closter, New Jersey.^[1][2] La Stella attended Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey, St. John's University and Coastal Carolina University. He played college baseball for both the St. John's Red Storm and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.^[3] La Stella appeared in 125 games (all starts) for the Chanticleers in 2010/2011 and hit .388 with 28 home runs and 136 RBI. An outstanding defensive infielder, La Stella committed, only, 12 errors in 509 chances for Coastal Carolina, resulting in a .976 fielding percentage.

Professional career

Minor leagues

The Braves selected La Stella in the eighth round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and he spent the rest of the season with the Rome Braves. In 2012, he played for the Lynchburg Hillcats, and in 2013 he played for the Mississippi Braves of the Class AA Southern League.^[4] With the Mississippi Braves, La Stella had a .343 batting average in 81 games.^[5]

Atlanta Braves

On January 13, 2014, he was invited to spring training.^[6][7] He began the 2014 season with the Gwinnett Braves of the Class AAA International League, and debuted at the major league level on May 28, hitting two singles.^[8] La Stella hit his first major league home run on August 8, 2014, against Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals. The home run put the Atlanta Braves up 7-0 in a game eventually won 7-6.^[9] He finished the year with a .251 batting average in 93 games.^[10]

Chicago Cubs

On November 16, 2014, the Braves traded La Stella, along with an international signing bonus slot, to the Chicago Cubs for Arodys Vizcaíno and three international signing bonus slots.^[11][12] La Stella made the Cubs opening day roster, but only played in two games before straining his right oblique on April 10, 2015. While rehabilitating at the minor league level with the Tennessee Smokies, La Stella suffered another oblique strain.^[13] He came off the disabled list in August, and was sent to the Iowa Cubs.^[14] On August 24 he was recalled from Iowa and rejoined the major league club.^[15] In limited time with Chicago, La Stella was used mainly as a pinch hitter, a role in which he excelled.^[16] To increase his versatility, La Stella began playing third base during the regular season.^[17] In 33 games,^[18] La Stella hit .269,^[19] and started at third base during the National League Wild Card Game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[20]

References

1. O'Brien, David (July 7, 2014). "New Jersey native La Stella is a big story back home". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
2. O'Brien, David (May 28, 2014). "La Stella’s time is here: Braves bring 2B prospect to majors". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
3. Bowman, Mark (March 18, 2014). "Perseverance paying off for prospect La Stella". MLB.com. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
4. Pelzman, J. P. (July 8, 2014). "MLB: Rapid rise for Tommy La Stella". The Record. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
5. "Could La Stella Help Braves In September? - 07/30/2013". Chattanoogan.com. July 30, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
6. "Braves announce Non-Roster Invitees". MLB.com. January 13, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
7. Bowman, Mark (February 23, 2014). "La Stella looking to show Braves he's ready". MLB.com. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
8. Petrella, Steven (May 28, 2014). "Making big league debut, La Stella notches two hits". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
9. Bowman, Mark (August 9, 2014). "La Stella belts first MLB homer, gets silent treatment". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
10. Gonzales, Mark (November 16, 2014). "Cubs acquire infielder Tommy La Stella from Atlanta". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
11. Bowman, Mark (November 16, 2014). "Braves reacquire Vizcaino, add to international budget". MLB.com. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
12. "Cubs acquire INF La Stella from Braves". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
13. Birch, Tommy (August 14, 2015). "Tommy La Stella's difficult year brings him to Iowa". Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
14. Rogers, Jesse (August 11, 2015). "Cubs' David Ross acitvated; Matt Szczur, Tommy La Stella optioned to Triple-A". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
15. Garno, Greg (August 24, 2015). "Cubs place Motte, Soler on disabled list". MLB.com. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
16. Rogers, Jesse (March 5, 2016). "Tommy La Stella is the man in a pinch for Chicago Cubs". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
17. Muskat, Carrie (February 26, 2016). "La Stella adjusting to move to third base". MLB.com. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
18. Gonzales, Mark (October 6, 2015). "Cubs could opt for lineup of lefties vs. Pirates: report". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
19. Gonzales, Mark (November 10, 2015). "Cubs position-by-position analysis: Third base". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
20. Gonzales, Mark (February 22, 2016). "Tommy La Stella knows what's at stake in Cubs camp". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 8, 2016.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)