Mario Joseph Loperfido...Attended Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, N.J., where he was a three year letterwinner, graduating in 2017...Was a 2017 Rawlings-Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American and the 84th-ranked shortstop nationally in the 2017 recruiting class...During his high school career, earned All-Colonial Conference and All-South Jerset honors in both his junior and senior seasons...Also played soccer...Went to Duke University for four years, helping bring the Blue Devils to their first two NCAA Super Regional appearances in program history, coming in 2018 and 2019...Was part of the first Duke team to the NCAA postseason in three consecutive seasons...During his time at Duke, hit .317 (201-for-635) with 37 doubles, nine triples, 18 home runs, 96 RBI, 41 stolen bases, 85 walks, a .419 OBP and a .907 OPS in 170 games...In his senior season, was named the 2021 ACC Championship Tournament MVP as Duke won the ACC tournament for the first time in school history...In the 2021 campaign, was also named a Second Team All-ACC outfielder...At the time of his graduation, he ranked 10th in Duke history in OBP, 14th in stolen bases, 17th in runs scored (142) and 20th in batting average...Played for the Kalamazoo Growlers of the Northwoods League and the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League in between his collegiate seasons...His mother, Amy, was a collegiate volleyball player at Villanova University, while his father, Joseph, played football at Muhlenberg College...Entered the 2024 season as the Astros 6th-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.
2024
Between the Majors and Triple-A, hit .237 (96-for-405) with 20 doubles, five triples, 17 homers, 65 runs scored, 58 RBI, a 7.5% walk rate, a 32.8% strikeout rate, a .318 wOBA, a .437 SLG, a .744 OPS, an average exit velocity of 88.9mph...Appeared in 39 contests at Triple-A Sugar Land, batting .272 (44-for-162) with seven doubles, a triple, 13 homers, 33 RBI, 21 BB, a .568 SLG, a .933 OPS and a 121 wRC+...Recorded 6 DRS in LF...Posted a launch angle sweet spot rate of 40.7% in the Majors...In close and late situations this season, batted .289 (11-for-38) with three doubles, a homer, six RBI, a .447 SLG and a .755 OPS...Selected to the Major League roster for the first time on April 30...Recalled on June 8 & 21...Played 38 games with HOU, making his MLB debut on April 30, recording his first MLB hit with a two-run single off RHP Carlos Carrasco in the fourth inning...Recorded his first career MLB home run with a two-run shot off RHP Joey Estes on May 16 vs. OAK...Traded to TOR along with RHP Jake Bloss and INF Will Wagner in exchange for LHP Yusei Kikuchi on July 29...On Aug. 18 at CHC, drove in the game¡¯s only run with his first home run as a Blue Jay...Tied the game at 4-4 in the ninth inning on Aug. 23 vs. LAA with a solo home run, his first at Rogers Centre...On Sept. 10 vs. NYM, notched a bat speed of 87.6 MPH on a groundout in the fifth inning, the second fastest swing by a Blue Jay on the year.
2023
Was named the Astros Minor League Player of the Year in 2023, batting a combined .278 (130x467) with 27 doubles, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 27 steals and an .880 OPS...began the year with High A Asheville (8g) and was promoted to Double A Corpus Christi (84g) before closing out the year with Triple A Sugar Land (32g)...played all over the field defensively, appearing in a combined 43 games at center field, 21 games at second base, 20 games at right field, 19 games at first base and 14 games at left field...was the only player in the Astros system and one of five players in all of Minor League Baseball with at least 25 HR and 25 steals...led Astros Minor Leaguers in hits and doubles and was second in homers and RBI...was selected as a Texas League Postseason ALL-STAR after batting .296 (93x314) with 19 HR, 57 RBI and 20 steals in 84 games with Corpus Christi... was also named the Baseball America Astros Minor League Player of the Year...was voted as an Astros MiLB.com Organizational ALL-STAR for his second consecutive season...was named the Astros Minor League Player of the Month for April while playing with between Corpus Christi and Asheville.
