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'{{Infobox baseball biography |name=Tommy "the bum" La Stella |image=Tommy La Stella on July 6, 2014.jpg |image_size=250px |caption=La Stella with the Atlanta Braves |team=Chicago Cubs |number=2 |position=[[Third baseman]] |bats=Left |throws=Right |birth_date={{birth date and age|1989|1|31}} |birth_place=[[Westwood, New Jersey]] |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = May 28 | debutyear = 2014 | debutteam = Atlanta Braves | statyear = July 26, 2016 |statleague = MLB | stat1label = [[Batting average]] | stat1value = .263 | stat2label = [[Home run]]s | stat2value = 4 | stat3label = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]] | stat3value = 50 |teams= *[[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|2014}}) *[[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|2015}}–present) }} '''Thomas F. La Stella''' (born January 31, 1989) is an American [[second baseman]] in the [[Chicago Cubs]] organization of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the [[Atlanta Braves]] in 2014. ==Early life and career== Born in [[Westwood, New Jersey]] to Phil and Jane La Stella on January 31, 1989, Tommy and his two siblings grew up in nearby [[Closter, New Jersey|Closter]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=New Jersey native La Stella is a big story back home|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/new-jersey-native-la-stella-is-a-big-story-back-ho/ngbFD/|accessdate=April 8, 2016|work=Atlanta Journal Constitution|date=July 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=La Stella’s time is here: Braves bring 2B prospect to majors|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-promoted-2b-prospect-la-stella-promoted-fro/nf8ZN/|accessdate=April 8, 2016|work=Atlanta Journal Constitution|date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> La Stella attended [[Saint Joseph Regional High School]] in [[Montvale, New Jersey]], [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] and [[Coastal Carolina University]]. He played [[college baseball]] for both the [[St. John's Red Storm]] and [[Coastal Carolina Chanticleers]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bowman|first=Mark|title=Perseverance paying off for prospect La Stella|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/atl/atlanta-braves-second-baseman-tommy-la-stella-progressing-past-prospect-label?ymd=20140318&content_id=69560430&vkey=news_atl|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=March 19, 2014|date=March 18, 2014}}</ref> La Stella appeared in 125 games (all starts) for the Chanticleers in 2010/2011 and hit .388 with 28 home runs and 136 RBI. He committed only 12 errors in 509 chances for Coastal Carolina, resulting in a .976 fielding percentage. ==Professional career== ===Atlanta Braves=== The Braves selected La Stella in the eighth round of the [[2011 MLB Draft]], and he spent the rest of the season with the [[Rome Braves]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[South Atlantic League]]. In 2012, he played for the [[Lynchburg Hillcats]] of the [[Class A-Advanced]] [[Carolina League]]. In 2013, he played for the [[Mississippi Braves]] of the [[Class AA]] [[Southern League (baseball)|Southern League]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pelzman|first1=J. P.|title=MLB: Rapid rise for Tommy La Stella|url=http://www.northjersey.com/sports/baseball/rapid-rise-for-la-stella-1.1047736?page=all|accessdate=April 9, 2016|work=The Record|date=July 8, 2014}}</ref> With the Mississippi Braves, La Stella had a .343 batting average in 81 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/7/30/256031/Could-La-Stella-Help-Braves-In-September.aspx |title=Could La Stella Help Braves In September? - 07/30/2013 |publisher=Chattanoogan.com |date=July 30, 2013 |accessdate=November 22, 2013}}</ref> The Braves invited La Stella to [[spring training]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/66537690|title=Braves announce Non-Roster Invitees |publisher=MLB.com |date=January 13, 2014 |accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/68241990|title=La Stella looking to show Braves he's ready |publisher=MLB.com|date=February 23, 2014 |last=Bowman |first=Mark |accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref> He began the 2014 season with the [[Gwinnett Braves]] of the [[Class AAA]] [[International League]], and debuted at the major league level on May 28, hitting two singles in his first game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Petrella|first=Steven|title=Making big league debut, La Stella notches two hits|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/77183648|publisher=MLB.com|accessdate=May 29, 2014|date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> La Stella hit his first major league home run on August 8, 2014, against [[Stephen Strasburg]] of the [[Washington Nationals]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=La Stella belts first MLB homer, gets silent treatment|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/88734484|accessdate=August 9, 2014|publisher=MLB.com|date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> He finished the year with a .251 batting average in 93 games.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gonzales|first1=Mark|title=Cubs acquire infielder Tommy La Stella from Atlanta|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-acquire-tommy-la-stella-20141116-story.html|accessdate=April 8, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> ===Chicago Cubs=== On November 16, 2014, the Braves traded La Stella, along with an international signing bonus slot, to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for [[Arodys Vizcaíno]] and three international signing bonus slots.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Braves reacquire Vizcaino, add to international budget|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/101634576/braves-reacquire-arodys-vizcaino-add-to-international-budget|accessdate=November 17, 2014|publisher=MLB.com|date=November 16, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cubs acquire INF La Stella from Braves|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11887711|accessdate=November 17, 2014|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN.com|date=November 16, 2014}}</ref> La Stella made the Cubs' [[Opening Day]] roster, but only played in two games before straining his right oblique on April 10, 2015. While rehabilitating at the minor league level with the [[Tennessee Smokies]], La Stella suffered another oblique strain.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Birch|first1=Tommy|title=Tommy La Stella's difficult year brings him to Iowa|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2015/08/15/tommy-la-stella-iowa-cubs-pacific-coast-league/31767217/|accessdate=August 29, 2015|work=Des Moines Register|date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> He came off the disabled list in August, and was sent to the [[Iowa Cubs]] of the Class AAA [[Pacific Coast League]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rogers|first1=Jesse|title=Cubs' David Ross acitvated; Matt Szczur, Tommy La Stella optioned to Triple-A|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/33120/cubs-david-ross-acitvated-matt-szczur-tommy-la-stella-optioned-to-triple-a|accessdate=August 29, 2015|publisher=ESPN.com|date=August 11, 2015}}</ref> On August 24 he was recalled from Iowa and rejoined the major league club.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Garno|first1=Greg|title=Cubs place Motte, Soler on disabled list|url=http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/145056462|accessdate=April 8, 2016|publisher=MLB.com|date=August 24, 2015}}</ref> In limited time with Chicago, La Stella was used mainly as a pinch hitter, a role in which he excelled.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rogers|first1=Jesse|title=Tommy La Stella is the man in a pinch for Chicago Cubs|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36739/tommy-la-stella-is-the-man-in-a-pinch-for-the-chicago-cubs|accessdate=April 8, 2016|publisher=ESPN.com|date=March 5, 2016}}</ref> To increase his versatility, La Stella began playing third base during the regular season.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Muskat|first1=Carrie|title=La Stella adjusting to move to third base|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/110514248/tommy-la-stella-adjusting-to-move-to-third-base-for-chicago-cubs|accessdate=April 8, 2016|publisher=MLB.com|date=February 26, 2016}}</ref> In 33 games,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gonzales|first1=Mark|title=Cubs could opt for lineup of lefties vs. Pirates: report|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-tommy-la-stella-starting-20151006-story.html|accessdate=April 8, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=October 6, 2015}}</ref> La Stella hit .269,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gonzales|first1=Mark|title=Cubs position-by-position analysis: Third base|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-safe-at-third-base-20151110-story.html|accessdate=April 8, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=November 10, 2015}}</ref> and started at third base during the [[2015 National League Wild Card Game|National League Wild Card Game]] against the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gonzales|first1=Mark|title=Tommy La Stella knows what's at stake in Cubs camp|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-tommy-la-stella-battles-20160222-story.html|accessdate=April 8, 2016|work=Chicago Tribune|date=February 22, 2016}}</ref> After batting .295 for the Cubs in 2016, the Cubs optioned La Stella to Iowa on July 29, but he was upset by the demotion and did not immediately report.<ref>[http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2016/08/03/tommy-la-stella-given-extra-time-report-minors/88042050/]</ref> ==References== {{reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Tommy La Stella}} *{{Baseballstats|mlb=600303|espn=32217|br=l/lasteto01|fangraphs=12371|cube=stellatommy-la|brm=lastel000tho}} {{Chicago Cubs roster navbox}} {{DEFAULTSORT:La Stella, Tommy}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1989 births]] [[Category:People from Closter, New Jersey]] [[Category:People from Westwood, New Jersey]] [[Category:Baseball players from New Jersey]] [[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]] [[Category:Atlanta Braves players]] [[Category:Chicago Cubs players]] [[Category:Coastal Carolina Chanticleers baseball players]] [[Category:St. John's Red Storm baseball players]] [[Category:Rome Braves players]] [[Category:Lynchburg Hillcats players]] [[Category:Gulf Coast Braves players]] [[Category:Mississippi Braves players]] [[Category:Scottsdale Scorpions players]] [[Category:Tennessee Smokies players]] [[Category:Iowa Cubs players]] [[Category:American people of Italian descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Bergen County, New Jersey]]'