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L. J. Mazzilli

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L. J. Mazzilli
Mazzilli with the Binghamton Mets in 2015
Second baseman / Shortstop
Born: (1990-09-06) September 6, 1990 (age 34)
Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Lee Louis Mazzilli, Jr. (born September 6, 1990), known as L. J. Mazzilli, is an American former professional baseball second baseman and shortstop. Prior to playing professionally, he played for the University of Connecticut. He is the son of former All-Star outfielder Lee Mazzilli.

Amateur career

Mazzilli was born in Greenwich, Connecticut. He played Little League Baseball there, and won a Little League home run derby at the age of 12.[1] Mazzilli began his high school career at Greenwich High School, where he found that American football and lacrosse received more prominence. He transferred to Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York, which has a stronger baseball program. As schools in the Northeastern United States receive less attention for baseball than schools in warmer climates, Mazzilli transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year.[2][3]

After graduating from IMG, Mazzilli enrolled at the University of Connecticut, and played college baseball for the Connecticut Huskies baseball team along with teammate George Springer. The Huskies had Nick Ahmed playing shortstop, so they played Mazzilli as a second baseman.[4][5] He had a .312 batting average as a freshman, and a .338 average as a sophomore.[1] In 2010 and 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and returned to the league in 2012 to play for the Bourne Braves.[6][7][8] The Minnesota Twins selected Mazzilli in the ninth round, with the 280th overall selection, of the 2012 MLB draft,[9] Believing that he should have been selected earlier in the draft, and that he was not a priority to the Twins, he did not sign, even though the Twins offered Mazzilli a signing bonus twice as large as the $130,000 recommended for the slot.[3] Returning to Connecticut for his senior year, Mazzilli had a .354 average with 51 RBIs and 29 stolen bases.[10]

Professional career

New York Mets

The New York Mets selected Mazzilli in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB draft, with the 116th overall selection,[10][11] and he signed.[12] After signing, Mazzilli made his professional debut with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the Low–A New York–Penn League.[3][13] He hit .278 in 70 games for Brooklyn, and appeared in the New York–Penn League's All-Star Game. In 2014, he began the season with the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Single–A South Atlantic League (SAL).[2] After he batted .292 with seven home runs, 45 runs batted in, and 11 stolen bases, and appeared in the SAL All-Star Game, the Mets promoted him to the St. Lucie Mets of the High–A Florida State League in June.[5] He also appeared in a game for the Las Vegas 51s of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League (PCL) during the PCL playoffs.[14]

During the 2014–15 offseason, Minor League Baseball suspended Mazzilli for the first 50 games of the 2015 season for his second positive test for a "drug of abuse".[15] He played for Binghamton in 2015 after his suspension ended, and in 2016.[16] In August 2016, the Mets promoted Mazzilli to the Las Vegas 51s of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.[17] In 122 games split between the two affiliates, he hit .239/.320/.348 with 5 home runs and 43 RBI. Mazzilli split the 2017 season between Binghamton and Las Vegas, batting a cumulative .254/.340/.362 with 5 home runs, 40 RBI, and 9 stolen bases in 110 contests.[18]

New York Yankees

On April 10, 2018, the Mets traded Mazzilli to the New York Yankees in exchange for Kendall Coleman.[19] He spent the season with the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, batting .244/.315/.400 with 7 home runs and 25 RBI in 79 games.[20] On March 29, 2019, Mazzilli was released from his minor league contract.[21]

Long Island Ducks

L.J Mazzilli June 16, 2019 with the Long Island Ducks in High Point, NC
L.J Mazzilli June 16, 2019 with the Long Island Ducks in High Point, NC

On May 5, 2019, Mazzilli signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 122 games for Long Island, he hit .294/.351/.435 with 13 home runs, 74 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.[22] He became a free agent following the season.

Chicago White Sox

On December 9, 2019, Mazzilli signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] Mazzilli was released by the White Sox organization on June 18, 2020.[24]

Long Island Ducks (second stint)

On April 13, 2021, Mazzilli signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[25] In 101 games, he put up a slash line of .303/.381/.440 with 11 home runs, 69 RBI, and 19 stolen bases.[26]

On April 12, 2022, Mazzilli re–signed with the Ducks for the 2022 season.[27] In 102 games, he hit .263/.380/.388 with another 11 home runs, 46 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.[28]

Personal life

Mazzilli's father, Lee Mazzilli has played, coached, and managed in Major League Baseball. His mother, Dani, tossed balls for L. J. to hit in their yard while Lee was with his MLB team.[1] His sisters, Jenna and Lacey, also graduated from Connecticut.[29] Lacey is his twin.

References

  1. ^ a b c "UConn Baseball: LJ Mazzilli Expects To Go In MLB Draft". Hartford Courant. May 8, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Dominitz, Nathan (June 6, 2014). "Sand Gnats' L.J. Mazzilli hits way toward big-league goal". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Ex-UConn 2B LJ Mazzilli At Home With Brooklyn Cyclones". Hartford Courant. July 12, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  4. ^ Rohan, Tim (March 5, 2014). "Now Wearing No. 13 for the Mets, Another Mazzilli". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Farm report: L.J. Maz reflects on O's days". ESPN.com. June 25, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  6. ^ "#12 LJ Mazzilli - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "Wareham's LJ Mazzilli Following In His Fathers Footsteps". capecodbaseball.org. July 8, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "#6 LJ Mazzilli - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Lembo, John (June 6, 2012). "Colorado Rockies select Manatee High's Correlle Prime in 12th round: Ex-SCF ace, Cardinal Mooney player, IMG stars taken in MLB draft". Bradenton Herald. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "Connecticut's LJ Mazzilli Drafted by NY Mets in Fourth Round « CBS Connecticut". CBS Local. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "Mets keep it in the family with Mazzilli's son". New York Mets. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  12. ^ Lauterbach, Jordan (July 13, 2013). "Like father like son, L.J. Mazzilli selected by Mets 40 years later". Newsday. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  13. ^ Dell, Chris (June 16, 2013). "LJ Mazzilli to start Mets career with Brooklyn Cyclones". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  14. ^ "51s grab playoff opener on game-winner from son of Mets legend". LasVegasSun.com. September 3, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  15. ^ Rubin, Adam (December 23, 2014). "L.J. Mazzilli suspended 50 games". ESPN. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  16. ^ "Eastern notes: Mazzilli learning his limits". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  17. ^ Borges, David (August 13, 2016). "Down on the farm: Former Husky LJ Mazzilli joins Vegas clubhouse with Nutmeg flavor". New Haven Register. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  18. ^ "L.J. Mazzilli Stats & Scouting Report". baseballamerica.com. April 12, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "LJ Mazzilli, son of Lee, traded from New York Mets to New York Yankees". Espn.com. April 10, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  20. ^ "L.J. Mazzilli - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "Yankees Release 5 Players as MiLB Spring Training Ends". Pinstriped Prospects. March 30, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  22. ^ "L.J. Mazzilli". liducks.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  23. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  24. ^ Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris (June 18, 2020). "Minor League Transactions: May 29-June 16". Baseball America. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  25. ^ "2019 ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPION AND ALL-STAR L.J. MAZZILLI RETURNS". Long Island Ducks. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "Two peas in a pod: Ducks' L.J. Mazzilli says father Lee and Wally Backman are one and the same". newsday.com. July 23, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  27. ^ "LI Ducks Ink Three Solid Players: Mazzilli, Travis, Wielansky". brooklynsportsworld.com. April 12, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  28. ^ "L.I. Ducks carry momentum into second half". liherald.com. July 21, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  29. ^ "LJ Mazzilli Carrying A Famous Name And Hot Bat For UConn". Hartford Courant. May 6, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
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