Last weekend in Jupiter, Brady Policelli represented the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League All Star Game. He was the starting Designated Hitter for the North Division. On any given night in Lakeland, you will catch Policelli starting for the Flying Tigers, but he may not be exactly where you expect to find him.
This week, Policelli played games at Third Base, Catcher and Left Field. He shuffles through these positions on a regular basis. Policelli (Towson University) was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He played 26 games between the Gulf Coast League and Connecticut Tigers in 2016, while missing most of the 2017 season with injuries. In his first full Minor League season (2018), Policelli hit 7 HRs, 28 RBIs with a .248 BA / .712 OPS for the West Michigan White Caps in the Midwest League.
This season, Policelli has hit those marks in just a half season with Lakeland. He’s currently hitting .260 / .776 with 7 HRs and 29 RBIs. He sits in the top ten in the Florida State League in many offensive categories, including Hits (9th), Runs (6th), Total Bases (5th) and Slugging Percentage (7th). His power number earned him a spot in the FSL All Star Game’s Home Run Derby.
Policelli’s versatility in the field is an attractive quality that should get the Tigers attention. Tigers fans are quite familiar with multi-position players. Who can forget Shane Halter (2000) and Andrew Romine (2017) playing all nine positions in a single game! Brandon Inge was able to easily make a transition from Catcher to Third Base. Currently, Niko Goodrum is playing a utility role for the team. In other words, having the wherewithal and athleticism to play multiple positions can be a major asset in the Big Leagues.
You my not find Polincelli on a list of Tigers top prospects. However, if you are looking for a hidden gem in the farm system, keep tabs on Brady Policelli.
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