Paul Rappoli played pro baseball 6 seasons, instructs
Paul Rappoli had a slow first couple of appearances for the AA Trenton Thunder in 1996, but he didn't exactly mind, The Trenton Times wrote.
That's because he'd missed the entire previous season to an elbow injury, The Times wrote.
"Hey," Rappoli told The Times, "I'm just happy to be here playing baseball again. I'm looking forward to a good year even if I'm on the bench, or called on to bunt against a lefty or whatever."
That season marked Rappoli's sixth in the pros. It also marked his last. He topped out at AA. But his connection to the game has continued, as owner of his own baseball academy.
Rappoli's career began in 1990, signed by the Red Sox as an undrafted free agent out of Xaverian Brothers High School in Massachusetts.
Rappoli started with the Red Sox in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He hit .284 in 53 games. He then moved to high-A Winter Haven and short-season Elmira for 1991. He hit .257 that year.
For 1992, he played at high-A Lynchburg. That August, The Boston Globe caught up with him. He spoke about his progress and his transition to the pros.
"The biggest adjustment to pro baseball was being ready mentally," Rappoli told The Globe. "If you are not ready to play mentally or if you get homesick, you're not able to play. It was up to me to grow up quickly."
Rappoli moved to AA New Britain for 1993, where he hit .213 in 115 games. He returned to New Britain for 1994, hitting .279 in 109 games.
After missing 1995 to injury, he saw 69 games at AA Trenton and hit .212 to end his career.
He then went into instruction and coaching. In 2002, he founded Rappoli Baseball Inc., RBI Baseball Academy, which he continues to run in 2026. He's also served as an associate scout with the Red Sox.
- Boston Globe, Aug. 2, 1992: Stoughton player on deck to his dream
- Trenton Times, April 9, 1996: Rappoli's happy just to be playing again
Made the Majors:1,482-31.7%
Never Made Majors:3,189-68.3%-X