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Brewers sign top draft pick LaPorta
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 5:46 pm
by crkone
The Brewers today announced the signing of first-round draft pick Matt LaPorta, a first baseman at the University of Florida who will be shifted to left field.
LaPorta was expected to work out with the Brewers this afternoon before their game against Houston.
No terms were announced but LaPorta was believed to have signed at or near the $2.07 million recommendation by Major League Baseball for his slot in the draft.
The Brewers took LaPorta, 22, with the seventh pick of the first round of the June draft. They coveted his power enough to forget about his position in college and plan a move to the outfield.
LaPorta, who returned to Florida for his senior season after an injury caused him to slip to the 14th round last year, batted .402 with 20 home runs, 52 runs batted in and 55 walks for the Gators in 2007. He is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award given to the nation's top amateur player, which will be announced Friday.
LaPorta, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound right-handed hitter, struck out onl 16 times in 169 at-bats. He had a .579 on-base percentage, tops in the nation, and .817 slugging percentage.
He led the nation with 26 home runs as a sophomore in 2005 before an oblique injury curtailed his production last year.
I am one that did not expect him to be signed, but great news for the future.
http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=2&date=6/25/2007&id=25522
Re: Brewers sign top draft pick LaPorta
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:08 pm
by ReasonablySober
crkone wrote:The Brewers today announced the signing of first-round draft pick Matt LaPorta, a first baseman at the University of Florida who will be shifted to left field.
LaPorta was expected to work out with the Brewers this afternoon before their game against Houston.
No terms were announced but LaPorta was believed to have signed at or near the $2.07 million recommendation by Major League Baseball for his slot in the draft.
The Brewers took LaPorta, 22, with the seventh pick of the first round of the June draft. They coveted his power enough to forget about his position in college and plan a move to the outfield.
LaPorta, who returned to Florida for his senior season after an injury caused him to slip to the 14th round last year, batted .402 with 20 home runs, 52 runs batted in and 55 walks for the Gators in 2007. He is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award given to the nation's top amateur player, which will be announced Friday.
LaPorta, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound right-handed hitter, struck out onl 16 times in 169 at-bats. He had a .579 on-base percentage, tops in the nation, and .817 slugging percentage.
He led the nation with 26 home runs as a sophomore in 2005 before an oblique injury curtailed his production last year.
I am one that did not expect him to be signed, but great news for the future.
http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=2&date=6/25/2007&id=25522
You didn't expect them to sign a college senior taken 12 picks higher than most thought he'd go?
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:19 pm
by MickeyDavis
LaPorta is a Scott Boras guy, nothing is a given no matter where they are drafted.
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 6:39 pm
by crkone
MickeyDavis wrote:LaPorta is a Scott Boras guy, nothing is a given no matter where they are drafted.
Exactly what I thought.
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 10:13 pm
by mnstinks
Has LaPorta played yet? Pardon me for not being informed...
Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:24 pm
by MickeyDavis
I heard he was going to the Arizona rookie league for about a month and then on to West Virginia.
But he's not listed on the Brewers rookie league roster
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... bp&cid=406
He's not listed on the West Virginia roster either
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... lb&cid=525
I didn't see him on any of our rosters.
Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:31 am
by ReasonablySober
They're taking it slow with him because of a hamstring injury. He started jogging last week, I believe.
He's going to go to the AFL for some games and then head to WV.
Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:23 am
by El Duderino
MickeyDavis wrote:LaPorta is a Scott Boras guy, nothing is a given no matter where they are drafted.
Boras maximizes every ounce of leverage he has with players he is the agent for,he had no leverage with LaPorta.
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:38 pm
by mnstinks
LaPorta homered on his first swing as a Brewer...2-4 overall.
"Helena Brewers won their first game of the second half Monday night. The Brewers defeated the Missoula Osprey 8-3 and the Brewers first-round pick, Matt LaPorta, impressed in his professional debut.
Missoula scored the game's first run in the top of the first inning, but LaPorta tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning. On an 0-1 count, two out and no one on LaPorta hit a no-doubt home run to left field with his first professional swing."
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:05 pm
by mnstinks
And (from Brewerfan)
The announcers mentioned that LaPorta put on a show in BP today.
Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:36 pm
by MickeyDavis
Good, we need a left fielder next year
