Indians’ LaPorta dealing with expectations

“It was a great honor to be traded for CC [Sabathia]. He’s an outstanding pitcher. I’m thankful for this opportunity.”

Matt LaPorta

Indians outfielder

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Matt LaPorta was minding his own business last summer when his career took a dramatic turn.

The power-hitting outfielder was having a big season in the minor leagues and was looking for a chance to move one step closer to the majors. Even though LaPorta was considered one of the top prospects in baseball, he was able to go about his work in relative peace.

That all changed on July 7. That’s when LaPorta was part of a deal that sent him to Cleveland as Indians’ ace pitcher CC Sabathia went to the Milwaukee Brewers. As far as the Indians were concerned, LaPorta was the centerpiece of the trade. Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro wouldn’t have made the deal if he hadn’t been included in the package of prospects that came Cleveland’s way.

Being dealt for the American League 2007 Cy Young award winner would seem to put a lot of pressure on a player, but that’s not how the 24-year-old LaPorta looks at it.

“It was a great honor to be traded for CC,” he said. “He’s an outstanding pitcher. I’m thankful for this opportunity.”

After the trade, LaPorta joined Cleveland’s minor league team at Akron, the heart of Indians country. He got firsthand knowledge of what is expected of him, but he isn’t going to let that bother him.

“I try not to put goals like that on myself,” LaPorta said. “I work hard every day to get better. You can’t worry about the expectations people put on you.”

At the time of the trade, LaPorta was batting .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs. He hit .233 with two homers and eight RBIs after the deal, but some extenuating circumstances can partly explain the drop in numbers.

Three days after joining Akron, LaPorta’s grandfather, with whom he was very close, died. He then played in the Futures Game at Yankee Stadium as part of the All-Star Game festivities. LaPorta returned to Akron, but played in only 10 games before joining Team USA for the Beijing Olympics. He was hit in the head with a pitch in a game against China and suffered a concussion. Although LaPorta returned later in the Olympics to hit a home run, the aftereffects of the concussion lingered.

“I could feel it for about two or three weeks,” he said. “My head would start throbbing when I ran in the outfield.”

While fans want immediate results, LaPorta was dealing with many changes in his life and career.