In each series throughout the season, we will highlight a former player who donned a Braves jersey and also suited up for Atlanta’s most recent opponent. The Braves completed a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs, taking two of three games. Let’s take a look back on a player who donned both a Braves and Cubs jersey in their career.
As always, there are always several options we could choose but we typically like to stay on the obscure side and bring back memories you may have forgotten. Dansby Swanson is the latest member on this list but what about middle infielder Tommy La Stella?
Tommy La Stella with the Braves
Tommy La Stella actually began his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves when he was 25 years old. He was originally drafted in the eighth round of the 2011 MLB Draft. The second baseman was Atlanta's ninth-best prospect at the time of his call-up to the big leagues in 2014.
La Stella quickly became a fan favorite so it is hard to believe that this was his lone season in the Braves organization. Over this time, he appeared in 93 games, hitting .251 along with one home run and 31 runs batted in while playing stellar defense at second base.
His first MLB hit came against the Red Sox in his first game. The starting pitcher for that game was John Lackey and the breaking ball was hit into center field to start what many hoped would be an excellent MLB career.
Tommy La Stella with the Cubs
Once Tommy La Stella moved on from the Braves, he spent the next 4 seasons, starting in 2015, with the Chicago Cubs. While he played his home games at Wrigley Field, La Stella posted a .273 batting average with nine home runs and 63 runs batted in. He also showed off his versatility by playing multiple infield positions.
So, his time in Chicago wasn't extremely flashy but good enough to keep a roster spot in the friendly confines for a few years.
Tommy La Stella's career
Since his time with the Braves and Cubs, Tommy La Stella has made appearances for the Angels, Athletics, Giants, and Mariners. He last played in the big leagues in April 2023.
The only individual accolade that La Stella has for his career is one All-Star Game appearance when he was with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. La Stella ended the 2019 season with a line of .295/.346/.486 and a .832 OPS. He also had a career-high of 16 home runs and 44 RBI.
Across a respectable 10-year career, La Stella batted .266 with 40 home runs and 206 RBI. Tommy La Stella always played the game hard and fit in his role perfectly, regardless of the team he was on. His time with the Braves was short but he gained some great lessons while being with the organization.