With their 9th Round pick (271st overall) the Astros selected 6'3" 195lb (LSU says 6'4" 225lbs) switch-hitting catcher Mike Papierski out of LSU.
Apparently known more as a defensive catcher, Papierski (originally drafted in the 16th Round of the 2014 draft by Toronto) threw out 22 of 62 runners in 2017 - through last Saturday. He hit .260/.414/.455 with 8HR, 42K:38BB.
But that's misleading, SECCountry says that on April 21, he was hitting .200 before LSU hitting coach Micah Gibbs told him to add a leg-kick to his swing. Over his last 23 games (as of yesterday), BIG PAPI (YEAH?! GET IT?!) hit .328 with five home runs.
LSU says that he started out as a switch-hitter, but has hit exclusively from the right since the last 13 games of the 2016 season.
On the question of whether or not he will sign, it apparently has to do with getting drafted in the top 10 rounds. LSU head coach Paul Mainieri:
There are so few really good defensive catchers out there. It's one position where everybody will agree there's a tremendous shortage. His defensive skills make him a tremendous prospect. Of late he's started to swing the bat much better as well.
The slot for the 271st overall pick is $141,600.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
