I can’t swear to you that his swing is better than anyone else’s or whatever. Appeared in two games before he landed on the 15-day disabled list, April 14 (retroactive to April 9), with right rib cage inflammation ... made the start at second base, Opening Night, April 5. He struck out just 5.3 percent of the time last year, a number that was best in the majors by a long shot. Where they compare, said Harrison, is their “high-level depth perception,” or the “ability to see something moving and judge the velocity as well as the trajectory.”, Harrison said the ability is natural for some but can also be improved and that he and La Stella worked on “how to control his vision, to recognize and react.”. At 31, La Stella has been a disciplined hitter throughout his career. Before Tommy La Stella signed a three-year, $18.75MM deal with the Giants, the infielder drew some attention from the Mariners, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link).). Atlanta Braves selected the contract of 2B Tommy La Stella from Gwinnett Braves. Versatile infielder Tommy La Stella completed an $18.75 million, three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. This season, he averaged one per 16.3 at-bats. A phone call, a private plane and a cable car conductor: How S.F.... S.F. I mean really stupid eyesight stuff, honestly. Seeing finger placement, which could offer a hint of what pitch is coming, would seem to be on another level. Hit .333 (11-for-33) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBI in nine games with Iowa before he was recalled, August 24. Since 2019, his 4.2% swinging-strike rate is fourth-best in the majors. Strained left hamstring. Was hitless in 10 at-bats in six post-season games. Named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star for the year...Also tabbed a Carolina League mid-season All-Star and Carolina League Player of the Week on 9/4...Led Lynchburg (High-A) batters with more than 100 plate appearances in average (.302) and triples (5)...After the All-Star break, he compiled a .397 average in 23 games, with 10 extra base hits and 16 RBI. He has not missed a beat this season. Mike Krukow couldn't be happier La Stella is coming to San Francisco. La Stella was among them. He fouled two off, waiting for the pitch he could hammer. Iowa Cubs activated 3B Tommy La Stella from the 7-day disabled list. Opened the season with High-A Lynchburg and hit .555 (11-for-20) with a .690 on-base percentage in seven games before making his Double-A debut following a promotion to Mississippi on 5/6...Claimed Mississippi Braves Most Valuable Player honors after leading the team with a .343 batting average and a .422 on-base percentage...He appeared in 81 games for the club and ranked tied for third in doubles and was fifth with 97 hits...The July Player of the Month for the M-Braves hit .349 (29-for-83) with four doubles, 11 RBI, four stolen bases and nine runs scored. Over the past two seasons, La Stella appeared in 135 games with the Los Angeles Angels. Scouting Report. And there are guys that are very close. Chicago Cubs activated 3B Tommy La Stella. “You get guys like Fletcher and La Stella in a lineup that are just absolute gnats, and it’s like, what the heck is this? Chicago Cubs reassigned 3B Tommy La Stella to the minor leagues. When the A’s acquired La Stella from the Angels for Franklin Barreto in August, general manager David Forst cited that trait as appealing to an Oakland team that at the time led the majors in strikeouts. Mississippi Braves activated 2B Tommy La Stella from the 7-day disabled list. Enjoyed a career-high eight-game hitting streak, September 15-23 ... hit .600 (9-for-15) with three doubles and six RBI. Tommy La Stella played Giants killer for the Los Angeles Angels last season when he hit a walk-off two-run homer off closer Trevor Gott. Why did the A's want Tommy La Stella? How did A's Tommy La Stella become the majors' toughest hitter to strike out? Tommy La Stella roster status changed by Lynchburg Hillcats. La Stella, who hit five home runs this season, is obviously not a Bonds-type hitter. Tommy La Stella roster status changed by Chicago Cubs. Thomas F. La Stella...Active in several Angels community relations efforts including visits to the Children's Hospital of Orange County...Began collegiate career at St. John's University...Transferred to Coastal Carolina University...Nearly won the Big South Conference triple crown in 2011... First team All-New Jersey baseball player at St. Joseph Regional High School (Montvale, NJ)...Grew up taking batting practice in basement of childhood house (Closter, N.J.)…Father installed a pitching machine in the family home…Originally signed by Braves scout Billy Best. “I think the probabilities of hard contact begin to plummet when you start to expand the strike zone,” La Stella said. Controversial S.F. Scouting Report: La Stella isn’t a physical (5-foot-11, 185) or particularly toolsy prospect, but what he does, he does exceptionally well. 2B Tommy La Stella assigned to Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers. The A's announced on Friday they have traded for infielder Tommy La Stella from the Los Angeles Angels for Franklin Barreto.. Oakland Athletics' Tommy La Stella doubles in 1st inning against San Diego Padres during MLB game at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, September 6, 2020. His walk rate hit a career low in 2019, but so did his strikeout rate. Began a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Tennessee, May 15 ... re-injured his side after being hit by a pitch, May 17 vs. Jackson. La Stella struck out only 12 times last season, while drawing 27 walks, leading the majors with a strikeout rate of just 5.3 percent and with 16.3 strikeouts per at-bat. During MLB’s shutdown this spring, Fletcher and La Stella worked out together, taking groundballs and swings often at high school fields in Southern California. 9 prospect by Baseball America. Atlanta Braves invited non-roster 2B Tommy La Stella to spring training. Where’s the guy that’s swinging for the fence every pitch?” Bassitt said. Los Angeles Angels placed 2B Tommy La Stella on the 10-day injured list. As early as 2015, then-Cubs hitting coach John Mallee said, La Stella believed he could hit for more power than he was showing. Batted .375 (6-for-16) off the bench compared to a .235 average (12-for-51) in 17 starts. Ballpark Access, Concessions & Experience, Getting to Oracle Park around Chase Center Events. Bobby Dalbec went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts as the Red Sox fell to the Orioles on Opening Day. Second baseman Tommy La Stella and the San Francisco Giants are finalizing a contract, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN's Jeff Passan. SF Giants infielder Tommy La Stella has been diagnosed with a knee contusion. The Giants signed infielder Tommy La Stella to a three-year contract, a few days before his 32nd birthday. La Stella brings a left-handed bat to the infield, and it’s a pretty darn good left handed bat. 3B Tommy La Stella assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs sent 3B Tommy La Stella on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs optioned 2B Tommy La Stella to Iowa Cubs. Connected on his first homer with runners on base in his career, a two-run shot off of Washington's Max Scherzer, May 6 at Wrigley Field ... Placed on the disabled list, June 8, with a right hamstring strain ... missed 25 games and was activated, July 6 ... played in six rehabilitation games with Triple-A Iowa, June 27-July 4 ... Optioned to Triple-A Iowa, July 28, and was placed on the temporarily inactive list from August 1-17 ... batted .296 (8-for-27) with two doubles, two walks and four runs scored in eight games between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa beginning August 17 ... was recalled, August 31. More than that, however, he doesn’t sacrifice decent power at the plate for control with the bat. Tommy La Stella batted .333 (14-for-42) in his final 23 games dating to September 2 after missing a majority of the season with right rib cage inflammation ... all told, appeared in 33 games for Chicago, hitting .269 (18-for-67) with six doubles and one homer. In first year with Angels and sixth in the big leagues, set career highs in hits (86), average (.295), runs (49), home runs (16), RBI (44) and slugging (.486)...Tabbed as an All-Star for the first time in career... First Angels second baseman to be selected to an All-Star Game since Howie Kendrick in 2011... Hit .300 (85/283) with 16 home runs and 44 RBI in the first half...Became 11th Angel infielder with 15 home runs prior to the All-Star break: Doug DeCinces, Darin Erstad, Jim Fregosi, Troy Glaus, Bobby Grich, Jack Howell, Wally Joyner, Don Mincher, Albert Pujols and Mo Vaughn...Tallied first career inside-the-park home run of career June 25th...Was the first inside-the-parker by a Halo since Peter Bourjos in 2011 and the fourth in leadoff fashion in franchise history...Fouled a ball off shin July 2nd and missed the next 72 games with a fractured tibia. He's hitting.273/.371/.475 with four home runs and more than twice as many walks (15) as strikeouts … August 26, 2012: Lynchburg Hillcats activated 2B Tommy La Stella from the 7-day disabled list. La Stella is the rare hitter who has trended the opposite way. Appeared in 26 games at third base, 15 at second base two at DH and one as a pitcher...Made first career pitching appearance July 20 vs. St. Louis, allowing three hits and one run in 1.1 innings. After retiring the first 18 batters of he faced, Chicago White Sox starter Lucas Giolito had his bid for a perfect game end with Tommy La Stella's leadoff single in the seventh inning. Also draws some walks and plays solid defense at second base. Earlier this season, A’s pitchers praised the Angels’ lineup partly because of how often Fletcher and La Stella seemed to be on base. La Stella a guy A's 'would love to have back' next season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea. MLB hitters in 2020 hit .167 in two-strike counts — .161 after falling behind 0-2. The Braves remained committed to pushing La Stella through the system as he moved on to Triple-A in 2014 where he has hit .293 with 25 walks against just 14 strikeouts in 47 games.