Aaron Sabato

Aaron Sabato
Sabato in 2021
Minnesota Twins – No. 96
First baseman
Born: (1999-06-04) June 4, 1999 (age 25)
Rye Brook, New York, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Aaron Chase Sabato (born June 4, 1999) is an American professional baseball first baseman in the Minnesota Twins organization. He was selected 27th overall by the Twins in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.

Amateur career

Sabato grew up in Rye Brook, New York and attended the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he was a four-year starter on the school's baseball team.[1] As a junior he batted .444 with nine home runs, 20 RBI and 20 runs scored.[2] As a senior, he batted .560 with 14 home runs in 22 games and was named first team All-Connecticut.[3]

After graduating, Sabato enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he played college baseball. As a true freshman, Sabato led the Tar Heels with a .343 batting average and with 79 hits, 25 doubles and 63 RBIs while setting a UNC freshman record with 18 home runs.[4][5] He was named the National Freshman Hitter of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year, as well as first team All-ACC and as a first team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and a third team All-American by Baseball America.[6][7][8][9]

Sabato entered his sophomore season on the watchlist for the Golden Spikes Award and was named a first team preseason All-American by Baseball America, Perfect Game and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.[10][11] Sabato batted .292 with six doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBIs with 22 walks before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[12]

Professional career

Sabato was selected 27th overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[13] Sabato signed with the Twins for a $2.75 million bonus.[14]

Sabato made his professional debut in 2021 with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels of the Low-A Southeast and was promoted to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the High-A Central during the season.[15] Over 107 games between the two teams, he slashed .202/.373/.410 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs.[16] He registered a 32.1% strikeout rate alongside a 19.8% walk rate.[17] Sabato returned to Cedar Rapids to begin the 2022 season. He batted .226 with 17 home runs and 57 RBIs in 80 games with the team before being promoted to the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge.[18]

Personal

Sabato's older brother, Teddy, played college baseball at UNC before transferring to Manhattan College. His father, Ted, is a police officer who played baseball at Mercy College.[19]

References

  1. ^ Martin, Ross (June 6, 2019). "Freshman Phenom Aaron Sabato's Incredible Ride". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Fierro, David (May 10, 2018). "Brunswick baseball slugger Aaron Sabato a MLB Draft prospect". Greenwich Time. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  3. ^ Fierro, David (June 6, 2019). "Brunswick graduate Aaron Sabato leads North Carolina baseball team into NCAA Super Regional". Greenwich Time. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "ACC baseball preview: High hopes for in-state teams". The Dispatch. February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Dunleavy, Mary (May 22, 2019). "Sabato's freshman season at UNC is a dream come true". WRALSportsFan.com. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Trendel, Avery (June 11, 2019). "NCBWA Names Aaron Sabato National Freshman Hitter of the Year". ChapelBoro.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  7. ^ Alexander, Jonathan (June 8, 2019). "How a 7-year-old boy made a lasting impact on UNC freshman Aaron Sabato". The News & Observer. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  8. ^ Trendel, Avery (May 22, 2019). "Aaron Sabato Named ACC Baseball Freshman of the Year". ChapelBoro.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  9. ^ Trendel, Avery (June 10, 2019). "Aaron Sabato Named Third Team All-American by Baseball America". ChapelBoro.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Pearson, Zack (January 27, 2020). "UNC Baseball: Aaron Sabato named Preseason All-American". KeepingItHeel.com. FanSided. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  11. ^ McConnell, Brighton (February 14, 2020). "UNC's Sabato Named to Preseason Golden Spikes Watch List". ChapelBoro.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  12. ^ Seifert, David (March 19, 2020). "D1 Analytics: 2020 Top Sophomore Hitters". D1Baseball.com.
  13. ^ "Twins take Tar Heels' Aaron Sabato with 27th pick in MLB draft". Star Tribune.
  14. ^ Park, Do-Hyoung (June 23, 2020). "'A perfect fit': Twins sign first-rounder Sabato". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "Aaron Sabato concentrates on contact as he joins Kernels".
  16. ^ "Hot Sheet: Baseball's 20 Hottest Prospects from the Past Week (9/21/21)". 21 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Top-30 Dynasty First Base Prospect Rankings". 20 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Twins' Aaron Sabato: Promoted to Double-A". CBS Sports. RotoWire. August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  19. ^ McMasters, jared (February 13, 2020). "'Doubt into fuel': UNC's Aaron Sabato used those who questioned him as motivation". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved February 21, 2020.