Matthew LaPorta

Infobox MLB player
name = Matt LaPorta

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team = Cleveland Indians
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position = Outfielder
birthdate = birth date and age|1985|1|8
birthplace = city-state|Port Charlotte|Florida
bats = Right
throws = Right
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Matthew Vincent LaPorta (born January 8, 1985 in Port Charlotte, Florida) is a left fielder in the Cleveland Indians organization. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3475667 ESPN - Sources: Indians agree to deal Sabathia to Brewers for minor leaguers - MLB ] ] He was drafted 7th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Florida by the Milwaukee Brewers. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2007/drafttracker.jsp MLB.com 2007 Draft Tracker] ]

Early life

LaPorta attended Charlotte High School in his hometown after transferring from Port Charlotte High. He played quarterback on his freshman football team for the PCHS Pirates. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to play baseball at the University of Florida instead. He had a breakthrough his sophomore year, garnering All-American honors as he helped lead the team to the 2005 College World Series final. Both LaPorta and the team struggled in by|2006, as his batting average dipped from .328 to .259. LaPorta was drafted in the 14th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox, but he chose to stay at Florida for his senior year, which paid off when he earned his second All-American nod despite the team's continued struggles. LaPorta batted .402 with 20 home runs his senior season with the Gators. [ [http://www.gatorzone.com/baseball/bios.php?year=2007&player_id=23 LaPorta's player Bio @ Gatorzone.com] ] Also, LaPorta picked up the SEC Player of the Year Honor. [ [http://www.secsports.com/index.php?url_channel_id=5&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=9014&change_well_id=2 Laporta wins 2007 SEC Player of the Year award] ]

Pro career

2007 draft

LaPorta was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 7th overall pick of the 2007 MLB Draft. The Milwaukee Brewers agreed on June 25 to a contract with LaPorta, giving the seventh selection a signing bonus of about $2 million. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2916063 Brewers agree to deal with seventh overall pick LaPorta] ]

2007 season

After rehabilitating his leg, Laporta was sent to the Brewers Rookie League Affiliate, the Helena Brewers. In his first at-bat as a professional player, LaPorta blasted a home run. He played 7 games with Helena in left field and as the designated hitter. Then in August, he was moved up to the Brewers Single-A affiliate, the West Virginia Power. Laporta had success playing Single-A ball, hitting 10 home runs in 23 games during the regular season. [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Matt%20LaPorta&pos=OF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=453181 Minor League Baseball web site, Laporta's information page] ] Like in Helena, he played mostly left field and designated hitter. The Power went on to make the South Atlantic League playoffs and advanced to the finale, but lost to the Columbus Catfish in a best of 5 series. LaPorta was selected by the Brewers to represent them in the Arizona Fall League. He impressed many people playing with the Mesa Solar Sox while playing in 30 games and had 6 home runs, which was tied for the most in the league. [ [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=119&sid=l119 Arizona Fall League: 2007 Stats] ]

2008 season

In January, the Brewers announced that LaPorta would be invited to spring training. [ [http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48740706_outfielder-matt-laporta-invited-milwaukee-brewers- LaPorta invited to spring training] ] On the opening day game for the Huntsville Stars, LaPorta hit a grand slam. [ [http://www.sun-herald.com/SPNewsstory.cfm?pubdate=040508&story=sp1.htm&folder=NewsArchive2 LaPorta starts season with a bang] ] Through June 13, by|2008, LaPorta was leading the Southern League in home runs with 20 [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=111&sid=l111 Southern League: Stats] ] and was batting .288 with 66 RBI.

On July 7, 2008, LaPorta was traded to the Cleveland Indians organization along with three other Brewers minor league players in exchange for left-handed starting pitcher CC Sabathia. Upon his arrival in Akron, Cleveland's Double-A affiliate, he switched from right to left field. He made his first appearance with the club on July 9. [ [http://www.rototimes.com/mlb/player.php?tqid=7089 RotoTimes.com - Matt LaPorta - Fantasy Baseball Profile ] ] LaPorta was selected to play in the Futures Game on July 13 for Team USA. [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080626&content_id=423442&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp Futures Game rosters chosen] ] On July 16, LaPorta was one of 24 players selected to represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. [ [http://akronaeros.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1216240047 Official Web Site of the Akron Aeros ] ]

Olympics

Before the Olympics, Team USA competed in exhibition games against Canada. LaPorta had three home runs and five RBIs in the four games against Canada. [ [http://web.usabaseball.com/news/stats.jsp?ymd=20080804&content_id=34831&vkey=recap_usab&gid=2008/08/04/usaint-canint-1 USA Baseball: Stats, through August 4] ] USA began play in the Olympics on August 13 against Korea. [ [http://web.usabaseball.com/teams/index.jsp?team=940 USA Olympic Team Schedule] ]

In a game against China on August 18, LaPorta suffered a mild concussion after he was struck in the head by a pitch by Chinese relief pitcher Chen Kun at the start of the seventh inning. The beaning followed a controversial play in the sixth inning when American outfielder Nate Schierholtz made a hard slide home against backup catcher Yang Yang on a sacrifice fly. Yang was in the game after China's starting catcher Wang Wei left the game after suffering a left knee injury following a collision at the plate with LaPorta in the fifth inning. After being struck by the pitch, LaPorta was taken to a hospital for a precautionary CAT scan; Chen Kun and China's pitching coach Steven Ontiveros were ejected from the game. The United States went on to win the game 9-1. [cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/baseball/news/newsid=231804.html?_source=rss&cid=
title=Bean ball: U.S. hit five times, wins |date=2008-08-18 |publisher=NBC | author= | accessdate=2008-08-19] In the Bronze-Medal match against Japan, LaPorta had a solo home run as Team USA won the Bronze Medal. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSPEK31339420080823 U.S. beats Japan to claim baseball bronze] ]

Awards and Achievements

*2005 and 2007 SEC Player of the Year [ [http://www.secsports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=5&url_article_id=5858&change_well_id=2 2005: SEC Announces Annual Baseball Honors] ]
*Two time Southern League Player of the Week in 2008 [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/pow/archive_y2008.jsp?mc=080421 Minor League Players of the Week, April 14-20] ] [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/pow/archive_y2008.jsp?mc=080505 Minor League Players of the Week, April 28 to May 4] ]
*2008 USA Olympic Team [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/pow/archive_y2008.jsp?mc=080505 LaPorta leads Team USA picks, SI.com] ]
*2008 Futures Game selection [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080626&content_id=423442&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp Futures Game rosters filled with top prospects, MILB.com] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.brewerfan.net/ViewAmateurPlayerProfile.do?playerId=526&draftId=4 LaPorta at Brewerfan.net]
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=111&sid=l111 LaPorta's player page on MILB.com]