Matthew Vincent LaPorta is an American professional baseball player who is a first baseman and left fielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. LaPorta played college baseball for the University of Florida. He was drafted 7th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. LaPorta was born in Port Charlotte, Florida. He attended Charlotte High School after transferring from Port Charlotte High. He played fullback on his freshman football team for the PCHS Pirates. LaPorta was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 14th round of the 2003 MLB... Draft, but instead accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Pat McMahon's Florida Gators baseball team from 2004 to 2007. He led NCAA Division I baseball with 26 home runs, which garnered LaPorta All-American honors as he helped lead the team to the 2005 College World Series final. In 2006, his batting average dipped from .328 to .259.
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