Dave Sappelt

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Dave Sappelt

| image = Dave_Sappelt_2011.jpg

| caption = Sappelt with the Louisville Bats in {{Baseball year|2009}}

| team =

| number =

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|01|2}}

| birth_place = Buffalo, New York, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 7

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Cincinnati Reds

| finalleague= MLB

| finaldate = July 23

| finalyear = 2013

| finalteam = Chicago Cubs

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .251

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 2

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 17

| teams =

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2011}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})

}}

David J. Sappelt (born January 2, 1987) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs. He is {{convert|5|ft|9|in|m}} and weighs {{convert|195|lb|kg}}. He bats and throws right handed. He graduated from Southern Alamance High School in Burlington, NC. Sappelt played college baseball at Coastal Carolina University.

Professional career

=Cincinnati Reds=

The Cincinnati Reds drafted Sappelt in the 9th round, with the 269th overall selection, of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. He played 2008 for the rookie-level Billings Mustangs. Sappelt hit .299 with seven home runs and 35 RBI in 254 at-bats. He had 301 at-bats for Single-A Dayton Dragons in 2009, hitting .269 with three home runs and 25 RBI; in 251 at-bats for the High-A Sarasota Reds he hit .295 with four home runs and 21 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Prospect of the Day: Dave Sappelt, OF, Cincinnati Reds|url=https://www.minorleagueball.com/2011/6/30/2249330/prospect-of-the-day-dave-sappelt-of-cincinnati-reds|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=minorleagueball.com|date=30 June 2011 |language=en}}

Sappelt started 2010 with the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats. He hit .282 with no home runs and four RBI in 71 at-bats. Sappelt was promoted to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats, and hit .361 with nine home runs 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 Most Valuable Player. Sappelt's performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Louisville Bats, where he hit .324 with one home run and eight RBI in 108 at-bats for the Bats. His season totals for 2010 were 509 at-bats, .342 average, 10 home runs, and 74 RBI. Sappelt was named the Reds' Minor League Hitter of the Year.{{Cite web|title=Carolina's Dave Sappelt Named Southern League's Most Valuable Player|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-14179764|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} His season performance earned him a trip to the prestigious Arizona Fall League, where he hit .292 in 72 at-bats with no home runs and 10 RBI. Sappelt also played in the Venezuelan Winter League, batting .305 with one home run and 10 RBI in 118 at-bats. He received a non-roster invitation to spring training for 2011.

Sappelt was invited to the major league spring training 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.{{cite web|url=http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110326&content_id=17137854&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006091053/http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110326&content_id=17137854&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |title=Three cut from roster, five more to go |website=MLB.com |last=Sheldon |first=Mark |date=March 26, 2011 |accessdate=March 6, 2014}}

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 home runs and 29 RBI, including a .358 average against lefties.{{cite web|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543743|title=Dave Sappelt Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=March 6, 2014|archive-date=January 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109001809/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=543743|url-status=dead}} After Chris Heisey injured his oblique in batting practice and was placed on the 15-day disabled list, Sappelt was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 7, 2011. He made his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs, leading off and playing left field.{{cite web |url=http://www.goccusports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/080611aaa.html |title=David Sappelt Promoted to Major League Club by Cincinnati |website=goccusports.com |date=August 6, 2011 |accessdate=March 6, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306225941/http://www.goccusports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/080611aaa.html |url-status=dead }}

=Chicago Cubs=

File:Dave Sappelt on June 27, 2013.jpg, triple-A affiliates of the Chicago Cubs, in {{Baseball year|2013}}]]

On December 23, 2011, Sappelt was traded with Travis Wood and Ronald Torreyes to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Sean Marshall. Sappelt made 26 appearances for the Cubs during the 2012 season, batting .275/.351/.449 with two home runs and eight RBI.{{Cite web|title=Dave Sappelt 2012 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/30797/year/2012/category/batting|access-date=April 10, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

On May 6, 2013, Sappelt was optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. In 31 appearances for Chicago, he slashed .240/.269/.280 with four RBI and three stolen bases. Sappelt was designated for assignment by the Cubs on September 3.[http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/09/cubs-designate-dave-sappelt-for-assignment.html Cubs Designate Dave Sappelt For Assignment] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa on September 5.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Teagarden, Sappelt, Brown|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/09/minor-moves-jordan-brown.html|access-date=February 8, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=5 September 2013 |language=en}}

=Acereros de Monclova=

On December 18, 2013, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Sappelt to a minor league contract, that included a spring training invitation.{{cite web| title = Marson, Gwynn signed by Phillies | newspaper = Delaware County Daily Times | pages = A55 | date = December 19, 2013 | url = http://iw.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_theme=aggdocs&p_topdoc=1&p_queryname=14B8759B69ED8540&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=NewsBank&p_docid=14B8759B69ED8540&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%2014B8759B69ED8540%20)&s_lang=en-US&p_nbid=U73N60AWMTQxMTk1NzY0NS40ODMyOjE6MTA6MTUyLjE5LjAuMA}} He was released prior to the start of the season on April 3, 2014.

On June 24, 2014, Sappelt signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Rogers, Geltz, Sappelt, Ni, Rodriguez, Hottovy|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/angels-sign-dustin-richardson.html|access-date=February 11, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=5 May 2014 |language=en}} In 13 games for Monclova, Sappelt batted .400/.446/.480 with no home runs and six RBI.

=Rojos del Águila de Veracruz=

On July 9, 2014, Sappelt was traded to the Rojos del Águila de Veracruz. In 33 games for Veracruz, Sappelt hit .275/.331/.374 with no home runs, 10 RBI, and four stolen bases.

=Piratas de Campeche=

On February 11, 2015, Sappelt signed with the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=Dave Sappelt Player Card|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/58631/dave-sappelt/|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=baseballprospectus.com|language=en}} In 54 appearances for the Pirates, Sappelt batted .335/.398/.546 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI, and five stolen bases.

=Boston Red Sox=

On June 9, 2015, Sappelt signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.{{Cite web|title=Dominicano Eliezer Mesa Firma Con Piratas Para Ocupar Plaza De Sappelt|url=https://www.campeche.com.mx/dominicano-eliezer-mesa-firma-con-piratas-para-ocupar-plaza-de-sappelt/|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=campeche.com.mx|date=10 June 2015 |language=en}} In 8 games for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, he went 6-for-29 (.207) with 2 home runs and 2 RBI. Sappelt elected free agency following the season on November 6.

=Sultanes de Monterrey=

On June 28, 2016, Sappelt was traded to the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. In 39 games for the team, he batted .371/.397/.537 with four home runs, 27 RBI, and two stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Dave Sappelt - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/dave-sappelt/6898/stats?position=OF|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

=Olmecas de Tabasco=

On February 27, 2017, Sappelt was traded to the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=Dave Sappelt, nuevo jugador de Olmecas|url=https://www.milb.com/news/dave-sappelt-nuevo-jugador-de-olmecas-217698460|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} In 14 games for Tabasco, he batted .250/.288/.375 with one home run, three RBI, and one stolen base.{{Cite web|title=2017 Tabasco Olmecas Roster|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-to14858/y-2017|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=statscrew.com|language=en}} Sappelt was released by the Olmecas on April 17.

=Rieleros de Aguascalientes=

On May 5, 2017, Sappelt signed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. In 80 appearances for Aguascalientes, he slashed .288/.375/.464 with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and four stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=2017 Aguascalientes Rieleros Statistics|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/t-ar10032/y-2017|access-date=February 15, 2025|website=statscrew.com|language=en}} Sappelt was released by the Rieleros on November 11.

=Southern Maryland Blue Crabs=

On May 27, 2018, Sappelt signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 7 games for the Blue Crabs, he went 5-for-27 (.185) with one home run and two RBI. Sappelt was released by the team on June 7.

=Winnipeg Goldeyes=

On June 13, 2018, Sappelt signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Winnipeg Goldeyes add four player including former big leaguer|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4270716/winnipeg-goldeyes-add-four-players-including-former-big-leaguer/|access-date=June 3, 2024|website=globalnews.ca|language=en}} In 28 games for Winnipeg, he batted .250/.351/.371 with two home runs, 14 RBI, and one stolen base.

=Tigres de Quintana Roo=

On July 15, 2018, Sappelt signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. In 13 appearances for Quintana Roo, he batted .308/.377/.404 with one home run, five RBI, and one stolen base. Sappelt was released by the Tigres on July 30.