Tommy La Stella
A contact-hitting infielder whose sharp eye and professional at-bats made him a valued role player for a parade of contending teams.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American baseball player·Birthday: January 31·Millennials
Biography
Tommy La Stella carved out an 11-year major league career not with flashy power or speed, but with a throwback skill: an exceptional command of the strike zone. Drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of St. John's University, he made his mark by rarely swinging at bad pitches. This discipline made him a perfect bench piece and spot starter, a left-handed bat who could grind out at-bats and get on base. His journey was a tour of competitive clubhouses, from the Chicago Cubs' historic 2016 World Series team to the Oakland A's playoff runs and the San Francisco Giants' record-setting 2021 season. While he was an All-Star in 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels, his true value was his adaptability, playing second and third base and serving as a reliable pinch-hitter. La Stella's career is a testament to how a specific, refined skill can create lasting major league opportunities.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tommy was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tommy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Tommy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a World Series championship as a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
- Selected as an American League All-Star in 2019 while with the Los Angeles Angels.
- Played for six different MLB teams across his career, often being acquired by contenders for his bat control.
- Posted an exceptionally low career strikeout rate, consistently among the best in the league for contact.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 8th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
In college, he played for the St. John's Red Storm, not to be confused with the more famous St. John's University in New York.
He opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My approach is simple: see the ball, hit the ball, and don't chase pitches.”
