Aaron Sabato Explained

Aaron Sabato
Team:Minnesota Twins
Number:96
Position:First baseman
Birth Date:4 June 1999
Birth Place: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]

External links

Notes and References

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