Dave Sappelt
Encyclopedia
David J. Sappelt is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Cincinnati Reds
. He is 5'9 and weighs 195 lbs. He bats and throws right handed. He graduated from Southern Alamance High School in Graham, NC. Sappelt played college baseball at Coastal Carolina University
. He resides in Graham, NC.
drafted him in the 9th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
.
He played 2008 for the rookie class Billings Mustangs
. He hit .299 with 7 homers and 35 RBI in 254 at-bats. Sappelt had 301 at-bats for single-A Dayton
in 2009, hitting .269 with 3 homers and 25 RBI; in 251 at-bats for the single-A advanced Sarasota Reds he hit .295 with 4 homers and 21 RBI.
. He hit .282 with 0 homers and 4 RBI in 71 at-bats. He was promoted to double-A Carolina
, and hit .361 with 9 homers and 62 RBI in 330 at-bats. He was a mid- and post-season All-Star in the Southern League
for the Mudcats, and was named Southern League MVP. His performance earned him a promotion to triple-A Louisville
, where he hit .324 with 1 homer and 8 RBI in 108 at-bats for the Bats. His season totals for 2010 were 509 at-bats, .342 average, 10 homers, and 74 RBI. He was named Reds Minor League Hitter of the Year. His season performance earned him a trip to the prestigious Arizona Fall League
, where he hit .292 in 72 at-bats with 0 homers and 10 RBI. He also played in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .305 with 1 homer and 10 RBI in 118 at-bats. He received a non-roster invitation to spring training
for 2011.
camp in 2011 as a non-roster invitee. He backed up his award as Reds Minor League Hitter of the Year by hitting .564 (22-for-38), along with three homers and 12 RBI. However, Sappelt was cut from the Reds roster late in spring. Manager Dusty Baker
said that a lot of the decision had to do with the fact that Sappelt was not on the 40-man roster, which at the time was full.
Sappelt went back to Louisville for the 2011 season, and continued hitting. Through his first 74 games as the Bats' center fielder, he hit .313 with seven homers and 29 RBI, including a .358 average against lefties.
injured his oblique in batting practice and was placed on the 15-day DL, Sappelt was called up to the majors for the first time on August 7, 2011. He made his Major League Debut vs the Chicago Cubs
, leading off and playing center field.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He is 5'9 and weighs 195 lbs. He bats and throws right handed. He graduated from Southern Alamance High School in Graham, NC. Sappelt played college baseball at Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
. He resides in Graham, NC.
Professional Baseball
The Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
drafted him in the 9th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
.
He played 2008 for the rookie class Billings Mustangs
Billings Mustangs
The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated...
. He hit .299 with 7 homers and 35 RBI in 254 at-bats. Sappelt had 301 at-bats for single-A Dayton
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
in 2009, hitting .269 with 3 homers and 25 RBI; in 251 at-bats for the single-A advanced Sarasota Reds he hit .295 with 4 homers and 21 RBI.
2010
Sappelt started 2010 with the single-A advanced Lynchburg HillcatsLynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
. He hit .282 with 0 homers and 4 RBI in 71 at-bats. He was promoted to double-A Carolina
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
, and hit .361 with 9 homers and 62 RBI in 330 at-bats. He was a mid- and post-season All-Star in the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
for the Mudcats, and was named Southern League MVP. His performance earned him a promotion to triple-A Louisville
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
, where he hit .324 with 1 homer and 8 RBI in 108 at-bats for the Bats. His season totals for 2010 were 509 at-bats, .342 average, 10 homers, and 74 RBI. He was named Reds Minor League Hitter of the Year. His season performance earned him a trip to the prestigious Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
, where he hit .292 in 72 at-bats with 0 homers and 10 RBI. He also played in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .305 with 1 homer and 10 RBI in 118 at-bats. He received a non-roster invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
for 2011.
2011
Sappelt was invited to the Major League spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
camp in 2011 as a non-roster invitee. He backed up his award as Reds Minor League Hitter of the Year by hitting .564 (22-for-38), along with three homers and 12 RBI. However, Sappelt was cut from the Reds roster late in spring. Manager Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
said that a lot of the decision had to do with the fact that Sappelt was not on the 40-man roster, which at the time was full.
Sappelt went back to Louisville for the 2011 season, and continued hitting. Through his first 74 games as the Bats' center fielder, he hit .313 with seven homers and 29 RBI, including a .358 average against lefties.
Major League Debut
After Chris HeiseyChris Heisey
Christopher Heisey is a Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Cincinnati Reds.Heisey graduated from Donegal High School in 2003 and went on to Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania...
injured his oblique in batting practice and was placed on the 15-day DL, Sappelt was called up to the majors for the first time on August 7, 2011. He made his Major League Debut vs the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, leading off and playing center field.