Mound Talk

BACKGROUND AND STATS

When the Brewers selected Matt LaPorta with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft they surprised all the draft pundits. LaPorta was projected to be taken late in the first round or early in the second but the Brewers passed on a slew of high school pitchers to take the college slugger. Over the tenure of Jack Zduriencik the Brewers have focused heavily on high school players taking Jeremy Jeffress, Will Inman, Yovanni Gallardo and Mark Rodgers in the first two rounds over the last three years.

LaPorta went to the University of Florida to play catcher but was moved to first base in favor of a better defensive catcher. There was discussion of moving him to third, and before his senior season he worked out there but ultimately found most of his at-bats at first base. He led Division 1 in home runs as a sophomore with  26 but an oblique injury slowed his promising junior season. He was drafted in the 14th round by the Boston Red Sox but decided to return to college for a senior season. He hit well and drove his stock up.

LaPorta spent the summer of 2006 in the Cape Cod League where he was an All-Star and put up a .250/.394/.463 line with 6 home runs after recovering from his oblique injury.

Over the course of his four years at Florida, LaPorta hit 74 home runs. He put up a .402/.582/.817 vital line his senior season en route to being a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

The Brewers sent LaPorta to Rookie League, Helena for a few games where he hit .259/.286/.519 in just seven games before he earned a promotion to Low-A, West Virginia. LaPorta continued to rake hitting .318/.392/.750 over 88 at-bats. LaPorta struck out 22 times in 88 at-bats and drew seven walks. He hit 10 home runs and eight doubles.

AT THE PLATE

LaPorta stands at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds. He bats and throws right handed. When he stands in at the plate, everything about him screams power. He has plus-plus power and his power ceiling is as high as anyone in recent memory. His college, and early professional stats are an indication of his power and he has shown he can hit the ball out of the park anywhere and with any bat.

LaPorta has a very good power hitters frame. He’s big and generates plenty of power with his torso and hips. His swing has a slight loft to it and is very natural and easy. He keeps his hands inside as he drives the ball and does a good job of waiting back on pitches. His swing helps him drive the ball to all fields.

LaPorta has good strike-zone judgement. He does a fairly good job of drawing walks. LaPorta strikes out a bit too much for his level relative to experience. This is largely due to his over-aggressiveness and not his ability to recognize pitches.

The big question with LaPorta is how he’s going to hit for average. He’s an average contact hitter but needs some improvement. He has the potential to draw plenty of walks and should be able to get “respect walks” for his power. LaPorta will have a difficult time replicating his .323 collegiate batting average but should be able to hit .290 and produce a Major League line of .290/.400/.550 in the near future.

IN THE FIELD

LaPorta was originally a catcher but moved to first base in college. He tried his hand at third but ultimately moved back to first. Most scouts project him to be a designated hitter or first baseman, but the Brewers put LaPorta in left field. He has a strong arm and solid footwork but is slow in the field. The left field experiment will be judged more thoroughly in 2008 after LaPorta has had a solid chance to adjust and learn a new position.

THE FUTURE

LaPorta projects as a Pat Burrell type player with a little more power potential. He will be going to the Arizona Fall League this year and could be sent to Double-A Huntsville if things go well in Arizona. LaPorta should be ready to compete for a job in Milwaukee in 2009 and could see some time there as soon as next season.