Mike Papi

{{Infobox MLB player

|name=Mike Papi

|image=Mike Papi Columbus (cropped).jpg

|image size=

|caption=Papi playing for the Columbus Clippers in 2018

|team=

|number=

|position=Outfielder

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1992|9|19}}

|birth_place=Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, U.S.

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

}}

Michael Joseph Papi (born September 19, 1992) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Papi attended the University of Virginia, where he played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers. In his collegiate career, he was named an All-American. He played professionally in the Cleveland Indians organization.

Career

Papi attended Tunkhannock Area High School in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. He played for the school's baseball team, competing in the Wyoming Valley Conference. With Tunkhannock, Papi was a member of two consecutive district champions, and his 2011 team reached the state championship.{{cite web |url=http://theabingtonjournal.com/news/local-news-news/1448033/Tunkhannock-grad-Mike-Papi-selected-by-Cleveland-Indians-in-MLB-Draft?template=abingtonart |title=Tunkhannock grad, Mike Papi, selected by Cleveland Indians in MLB Draft |work=The Abington Journal |accessdate=June 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185855/http://theabingtonjournal.com/news/local-news-news/1448033/Tunkhannock-grad-Mike-Papi-selected-by-Cleveland-Indians-in-MLB-Draft?template=abingtonart |archivedate=July 14, 2014 |df=mdy-all }} The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Papi in the 30th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, but he opted not to sign with the Angels.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/sports/1447672/WVC-alum-Papi-drafted-by-Indians |title=Tunkhannock grad Papi selected 38th overall by Cleveland in MLB draft |work=Times Leader |date= June 5, 2014|accessdate=June 8, 2014}}

Papi enrolled at the University of Virginia, and played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team. In 2013, his sophomore year, Papi led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with a .381 batting average. Papi was selected to the First All-ACC team and was named an All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Baseball America. He was named a preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://augustafreepress.com/mike-papi-brandon-downes-named-ncbwa-preseason-america-team/ |title=Mike Papi, Brandon Downes named to NCBWA Preseason All-America team |work=Augusta Free Press |date= December 19, 2013|accessdate=June 8, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://theweekender.com/news/localsports/1278468/Tunkhannocks-Papi-powering-ACC-power-Virginia |title=Tunkhannock's Papi powering ACC power Virginia |work=The Weekender |accessdate=June 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714193054/http://theweekender.com/news/localsports/1278468/Tunkhannocks-Papi-powering-ACC-power-Virginia |archivedate=July 14, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}

=Cleveland Indians=

The Cleveland Indians selected Papi with the 38th overall selection of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/2014/06/05/virginias-nick-howard-derek-fisher-and-mike-papi-get-selected-in-mlb-draft-first-round/ |title=Virginia's Nick Howard, Derek Fisher and Mike Papi get selected in MLB draft first round – Daily Press |publisher=Articles.dailypress.com |date= |access-date=June 8, 2014}}{{cite web|author=Steve Bennett, Staff Writer |url=http://citizensvoice.com/sports/tunkhannock-s-papi-drafted-by-cleveland-indians-1.1698784 |title=Tunkhannock's Papi drafted by Cleveland Indians – Sports – Citizens' Voice |publisher=Citizensvoice.com |date= |accessdate=June 8, 2014}} Papi signed with the Indians, receiving a $1.25 million signing bonus, and made his professional debut with the Low-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers.{{cite web|url=http://www.norwalkreflector.com/article/4726531|title=Indians draftee Mike Papi already on the move after starring in College World Series|author=Sandusky Newspapers, Inc.|work=Norwalk Reflector|accessdate=January 14, 2015}} After two games with Mahoning Valley, the Indians promoted Papi to the Single-A Lake County Captains.{{cite web|url=http://www.news-herald.com/sports/20140724/lake-county-captains-mike-papi-continues-journey-in-low-a|title=Lake County Captains: Mike Papi continues journey in low-A|date=July 24, 2014|publisher=|accessdate=January 14, 2015}} He got off to a slow start with Lake County,{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2014/08/cleveland_indians_first-round.html|title=Cleveland Indians first-round pick Mike Papi off to a slow start with Class A Lake County Captains|work=cleveland.com|date=August 8, 2014|accessdate=January 14, 2015}} and finished the Lake County season with a .178 batting average.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/localsports1/50281204/Papi-playing-in-championship-series-in-first-year-as-professional?template=art_smartphone|title=Papi playing in championship series in first year as professional|work=The Times Leader|date=September 9, 2014|accessdate=January 14, 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150118042645/http://www.timesleader.com/news/localsports1/50281204/Papi-playing-in-championship-series-in-first-year-as-professional?template=art_smartphone|archivedate=January 18, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Papi was assigned to the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats in 2015 and spent the whole season there,

posting a .236 batting average with four home runs and 45 RBIs.{{cite web|url=http://citizensvoice.com/sports/tunkhannock-s-papi-to-open-season-in-with-lynchburg-hillcats-1.1858264|title=Tunkhannock's Papi to open season in with Lynchburg Hillcats|author=Staff report|publisher=}} He began the 2016 season with Lynchburg and was promoted to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks in June.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohio.com/sports/rubberducks/rubberducks-right-fielder-mike-papi-has-big-dream-1.691276|title=RubberDucks right fielder Mike Papi has big dream|first=Jeff|last=Brewer|publisher=}} Papi ended 2016 with a combined .231 batting average, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 118 games between both teams. In 2017, he played for both Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, batting a combined .258 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs in 124 games between both clubs. He spent the 2018 season with the Clippers, hitting .247 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs in 83 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/mike-papi-596068|title=Mike Papi Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 24, 2018}}

In 2019, Papi appeared in only 27 games for Triple-A Columbus, batting .202/.290/.250 with no home runs and 10 RBI. He did not play in a game for the organization in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=2023-03-18|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Papi was released by the Indians on May 29, 2020.{{cite news |last1=Hoynes |first1=Paul |title=Mike Papi, high pick in 2014 draft, among minor leaguers released by Cleveland Indians |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2020/05/mike-papi-high-pick-in-2014-draft-among-minor-leaguers-released-by-cleveland-indians.html |publisher=Cleveland.com |date=May 30, 2020}}

=Gastonia Honey Hunters=

On May 21, 2021, Papi signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/|title = Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions}} Papi played in 79 games for Gastonia, hitting .243/.327/.462 with 14 home runs, 60 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. He became a free agent following the season.

Post-playing career

In 2023, Papi returned to the University of Virginia to earn his bachelor's degree.{{Cite web|title=Class of '23: They Were UVA Baseball Stars. Years Later, They're Graduating|url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/class-23-they-were-uva-baseball-stars-years-later-theyre-graduating|access-date=July 25, 2023|website=news.virginia.edu|language=en}}