Stephen Piscotty

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Stephen Piscotty
St. Louis Cardinals
Outfielder
Born: (1991-01-14) January 14, 1991
Pleasanton, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Stephen E. Piscotty (born January 14, 1991) is an American professional baseball player. An outfielder, Piscotty plays in minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He was a first-round selection from the Stanford Cardinal of Stanford University in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.

Early life and amateur career

Stephen Piscotty is the son of Michael and Gretchen Piscotty and has two younger brothers named Austin and Nicolas. He began attending games at Stanford with his uncle for his birthday when he was young.[1]

Piscotty attended Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California where he pitched and played shortstop.[2][3] In 2009, his senior year, he was named the most valuable player of the East Bay Athletic League.[4]

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Piscotty in the 45th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft but he opted not to sign. He enrolled at Stanford University, where he played college baseball for the Stanford Cardinal baseball team as a third baseman, pitcher, and an outfielder.[5] In 2011, Piscotty was named to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team.[6] Piscotty also played for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in 2011 and was the Cape Cod League batting champion with a .349 batting average.[3]

He was a preseason All-American prior to the 2012 season.[7][8] That year, he batted .329, led the Cardinal with 30 walks and 56 runs batted in (RBIs), and was named All-Pac 12 in 2012.[9] As a pitcher, Piscotty posted a 5–2 won–lost record with a 2.57 earned run average in 2012.[3] During his Stanford career, he batted .340 with 124 runs, 132 RBIs, 43 doubles, 12 home runs and 62 walks in 172 games.[1]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Piscotty in the first round, with the 36th overall selection, of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft and he signed on June 16 for a $1.4 million bonus. Cardinals manager was on hand to watch Piscotty take batting practice with the team before a game with the Kansas City Royals while he was in St. Louis to sign with the team. Piscotty impressed Matheny with his level of maturity and that he kept a short, compact swing.[9][10]

After playing in the infield for the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class A Midwest League in 2012, the Cardinals moved Piscotty to the outfield before the 2013 season.[11] His first season showed mixed results as he batted .295 with a .376 on-base percentage. 448 slugging percentage, four home runs, 18 doubles and 27 RBIs but made 22 errors in just 36 games at third base.[12] The Cardinals assigned Piscotty to the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL) in 2013, where he was selected as an All-Star.[13] After batting .295 with 15 home runs in 112 games for Palm Beach and the Springfield Cardinals of the Class AA Texas League, the Cardinals assigned Piscotty to the Arizona Fall League (AFL) to play for the Salt River Rafters.[14] In the final month of the regular season, he batted .345 with 18 RBIs. One of three third baseman the Cardinals drafted in the early round of the 2012 draft, Piscotty drew attention for his .371 batting average, .430 on-base percentage and .506 slugging percentage, seven stolen bases, one home run, 18 RBIs and 20 runs scored. His batting average ranked in the top five. The AFL also showcased his transition to right field. Mike Shildt, the River Rafters' manager – as well as of the AA Springfield Cardinals – observed that “he’s been really conscientious about going out during batting practice, and you can watch him there trying to work on routes, angles, jumps. He knows the places he has to improve, and the thing I noticed most in Arizona was how his experience out there was helping him read hitters, understand pitchers and get himself in the right position before the pitch. He’s paying attention.”[15]

Skills profile

With a short, compact swing, Piscotty consistently hits to the gaps. In the FSL, which is considered a pitcher-friendly league, he hit .292 with a .477 slugging percentage in 63 games. As of September 2013, he is thought to have a hit tool and approach that should help him get to the Major Leagues, but scouts are unsure if he will develop the type of power that is associated with corner outfield positions.[16] He is rated to have a smooth swing and a strong arm. As a pitcher, he has been clocked up to 93 miles per hour (150 km/h).[17]

Achievements and awards

Minor leagues
College
  • Third-Team All-American (Utility player), 2012[1]
  • First-team All-Pac-10: 2011, 2012[13]
High school
  • Most Valuable Player, East Bay Athletic League, 2009[4]
  • Rawlings California All-Region First Team, 2009[17]
  • All-East Bay Athletic League, 2006, 2007, and 2009[1]

Personal life

At Stanford, Piscotty majored in atmospheric and energy engineering.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Stephen Piscotty profile". GoStanford.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  2. ↑ Mills, David (June 5, 2012). "Baseball Draft: Amador Valley High Grad Chosen By Cardinals". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Traub, Todd (August 6, 2013). "Texas notes: Piscotty in good position". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bonagura, Kyle (May 20, 2009). "Piscotty lives up to top billing for Amador Valley". InsideBayArea.com. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  5. ↑ Goold, Derrick (June 15, 2012). "Cardinals and the draft pick cash game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Bennett, Miles (June 2, 2011). "Piscotty, Ragira lead seven Cardinal baseball players on All-Pac-10 teams". The Stanford Daily. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  7. ↑ Daily News Dispatches (February 13, 2012). "Local players named preseason All-Americans". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  8. ↑ Daily News Dispatches (April 10, 2012). "7 RBIs for Piscotty as Stanford stomps Cal". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Author not given (June 12, 2012). "Draft pick Stephen Piscotty signed a deal with the Cardinals". www.stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com. 
  10. ↑ von Horn, Steve (June 16, 2012). "Stephen Piscotty contract: Cardinals sign no. 36 pick for in 2012 MLB draft to $1.4 million bonus". SB Nation St. Louis. Retrieved October 13, 2012. 
  11. ↑ Langosch, Jenifer (February 28, 2013). "Piscotty makes right field debut in 'B' contest". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Stephen Piscotty minor league statistics & history". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Stephen Piscotty profile". Scout.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  14. ↑ Nagel, John (October 8, 2013). "Arizona Fall League preview". www.cardinalsfarm.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  15. ↑ Goold, Derrick (November 19, 2013). "Piscotty soars among Cards' top prospects". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 19, 2013. 
  16. ↑ Author not given (September 12, 2013). "Stephen Piscotty – St. Louis Cardinals – 2013 player profile". Rotoworld.com. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Author not given. "Stephen Piscotty Baseball Profile". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved October 13, 2013. 

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