Michael J. Papi

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Mike’s interest in sports came at a young age. He participated in soccer, basketball and baseball throughout his youth. In high school his focus was on basketball and baseball. In basketball, Mike was a two-time WVC All Star selection (2010-2011), first team in 2011 and was awarded the Sportsmanship Award at the 42nd George Moses WVC Senior All-Star Classic. His most prized recognition on the hardwoods was to be recognized for grit and determination as a member of John Erzar’s All-Asphalt Team that year. But it was in baseball that Mike was to make his mark. In 2010 & 2011 he led the Tunkhannock Tigers to District II District Championships. In postseason the Tigers advanced to a PIAA final four finish in 2010 and a state runner-up finish in 2011. Mike was the Times Leader Player of the Year in the WVC baseball conference in 2010 & 2011 and named to ESPN Magazine’s All-State Team.

Aspiring to the next level, Mike played summer travel baseball at a competitive level with Baseball U. Perfect Game named him among the Top 100 players in the nation in 2010 and he was selected by the New York Yankees Scout Team to participate in the East Coast Pro Showcase and the Area Code Games in Long Beach, CA. The 2010 summer was highlighted by his acceptance of a baseball scholarship to the University of Virginia. In the 2011 MLB Draft Mike was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 30th Round.

In his three years at UVA, the Cavaliers played in the NCAA Regional Tournament advancing to the College World Series in 2014. Following an injury-marred 2012 season in which Mike still hit .283 he had the season of his life in 2013.

That year Mike led the ACC in hitting (.381) and in OBP at .517 (2nd in the nation). He was a First Team All-ACC selection as an outfielder and a two-time ACC Player of the Week (vs. Duke & UNC). Postseason honors included being named the state of Virginia College Player of the Year by the Association of Sports Information Directors; a First Team All-American by Rawlings and Baseball America and Second Team by Perfect Game followed by a summer stint with the USA National Collegiate Baseball Team.

2014 brought UVA to the next level of success reaching the hallowed college baseball ground of Omaha NE where the Hoo’s finished as the national runners-up. In the regular season Mike led the ACC in home runs (11) and RBI’s (56), earned his second All-ACC First Team selection and was named to the All-ACC Academic Baseball Team. Postseason brought his second All-American honor, a Second Team selection by Perfect Game and being selected by the Cleveland Indians as a first-round pick 38th overall, in the MLB Draft. Over the years Mike was selected by UVA fan vote to the Cavalier All-Time Baseball Team as an outfielder and in 2021 to the UVA Baseball Hall of Fame.

His six-year career in the Cleveland organization was highlighted by being named Player of the year for the High-Class A – Lynchburg Hillcats in 2015 and championships with the AA Akron Rubber Ducks (2016) & the AAA Columbus Clippers (2019). For his career, he batted .235 with 103 doubles, 41 homers and 212 RBI’s.

Mike and his wife Amber, a former UVA soccer player reside in Fort Mill, SC. Mike is an Investment Advisor for Capstone Wealth Management, Clark’s Summit, PA.