LaPorta homer should start rampage of rookies
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When the Cleveland Indians traded CC Sabathia to Milwaukee last season the biggest gem they received in return was highly-touted outfielder Matt LaPorta. LaPorta was called up Saturday to the big club and he rewarded his team with a two-run homer Monday in his second start with the Tribe.
LaPorta has long been considered one of baseball’s hot prospects and he’s now going to get a chance to prove his worth as at least a semi-regular in Cleveland’s lineup. Those foundering fantasy players or even just those of you who like to see youth served when watching a baseball game should start to see more and more of La Porta’s contemporaries in the days and weeks to come.
Perhaps the only prospect viewed with more enthusiasm than La Porta heading into this season was Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters. He’s a student of the game and he’s viewed by some as “Joe Mauer with power.” His demotion to AAA Norfolk should not be seen as the team saying Gregg Zaun and Chad Moeller are superior catchers by any stretch. The Orioles, probably smartly, hid him away in the minors for the first third to half of 2009 in an effort to save money down the line by preventing him from reaching Super-Two status – put simply, the right to go to salary arbitration four times rather than three before being eligible for full-blown free agency.
Wieters has not been blowing people away with his hitting in AAA so far. He injured a hamstring early and word from observers is that he’s not exactly getting great pitches to hit. Nonetheless, Zaun was aware when taking the job that his ultimate role would be as teacher to Wieters and most peg his arrival in the show at late this month or mid-June at the latest.
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