#30 Nicholas Ammirati - Player Profile

Ammirati will begin his first year at Mississippi State this spring after spending his sophomore season at Panola Junior College in Texas. Last year at Panola, the switch-hitting catcher batted .280 with four doubles and nine RBI while striking out just 10 times in 132 at-bats. He posted a .986 fielding percentage behind the plate while throwing out 22 of 46 base runners attempting to steal, a very impressive 47% success rate. Ammirati played his freshman campaign at Seton Hall, where he batted .217 in 60 at-bats while driving in six runs. Ammirati is no stranger to summer baseball, having spent last year playing for the Orange County Pioneers where he posted a .298 batting average and was subsequently named to the California Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game. Nick hails from Seton Hall Prep High School in West Orange, New Jersey. He was drafted out of high school by the Florida Marlins in the 46th round of the 2009 MLB First Year Player Draft, after an impressive prep career. During his high school years Ammirati and Seton Hall Prep High School were tabbed as the top-ranked high school team in the nation by both Baseball America and Perfect Game USA. One of Ammirati’s battery mates in high school was pitcher Rick Porcello, who is currently pitching in the Major Leagues as member of the Detroit Tigers starting rotation.