Sammy Stafura Stats & Scouting Report

AB	55
AVG	.345
OBP	.449
SLG	.582
HR	2

Full name Samuel Stafura
Born 11/15/2004 in Cortlandt Manor, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 188 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Walter Panas HS, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.
Drafted in the 2nd round (43rd overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2023 (signed for $2,497,500).

View Draft Report

School: Walter Panas HS, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Clemson
Age At Draft: 18.7
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 50.

A strong offensive performer on the summer circuit, Stafura has been on an upward trajectory over the past year that has continued this spring. A bouncy, quick-twitch athlete, Stafura has added size, strength and speed while retaining his athleticism, checking a lot of boxes for scouts. He’s a high-contact hitter with a compact, explosive swing and a two-hand finish. He has posted big numbers this spring, albeit in a small home field at his high school that’s especially hitter-friendly from center field over to right. His approach serves him well there, hammering middle-away pitches to the middle of the park and the opposite way, though in the summer he did have trouble at times against pitches on the inner third. Added strength and a swing path with more lift than it had last summer has helped Stafura produce more power, with a chance to be a 20-25 home run hitter. He’s a plus runner who impressed scouts with his defense. He has a quick first step and ranges well to both sides, playing low to the ground with good body control and soft hands. Stafura doesn’t have a rocket arm for plays deep in the hole, drawing 50 to 55 grades on the 20-80 scale, but he has a quick release and a good internal clock. Stafura is in consideration for teams at the back of the first round and shouldn’t last much longer than that if he doesn’t get picked there.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: When the Reds drafted Stafura with the 43rd pick in 2023, he became just the third high school hitter in the past decade from New York state to be picked in the top 50 picks, joining catcher Joe Mack and outfielder Garrett Whitley. Considering Stafura’s cold-weather background, it wasn’t a shock when the Reds decided to hold him back in Arizona when the 2024 minor league season began. Stafura quickly changed those plans by hitting his way to full-season ball. He had two four-hit games in his first five in the Arizona Complex League and hit .346 with power in 15 games of Rookie ball. The Reds sent him to Low-A Daytona before May ended, and he ended up leading the Tortugas with a .374 on-base percentage and 27 stolen bases.

Scouting Report: Stafura had an eye-opening first taste of pro ball in 2023, when he hit .071/.212/.190 with a 44% strikeout rate in a 12-game stint in the Arizona Complex League. The Reds were impressed with how he worked hard to catch up over the winter, and how he responded to the challenge. He did that in high school as well. He hit .273 as a junior but cleaned up a bat wrap and hit .516 as a senior. Stafura can be beat by top-notch velocity, but he recognizes spin and offspeed pitches well and has a solid understanding of the strike zone. He’s a plus runner with plenty of athleticism. Defensively, he should stick at shortstop, with a slow heartbeat and a good first step. He’ll show more of an average than above-average arm, but it’s accurate and he has a good internal clock.

The Future: Stafura’s athleticism could fit almost anywhere on the diamond, but in an organization that has many players shuffling around the infield, Stafura has only played shortstop. He should join a talented group at High-A Dayton in 2025.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 50
BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Track Record: The Reds went very heavy on pitching in the 2023 draft but decided to shut them down after signing, which meant Stafura was the only one of the Reds’ top five picks to play in games after the draft. Stafura doubled in his second pro at-bat and doubled in his second to last at-bat of the season. In between, he was 1-for-38 and hit .071/.212/.191 with 23 strikeouts in 53 plate appearances.

Scouting Report: Stafura’s pro debut was concerning and he swung and missed way too much, but there’s no need to overreact to 53 plate appearances, especially when you consider that the adjustment Stafura had to make to playing games in the “Fire League.” It was 112 degrees for the New York prep product’s first game. It’s not a total surprise that Stafura may need a bit of time to adjust to pro ball, but he has the potential to be an athletic, well-rounded shortstop with plus speed. Defensively, he shows smooth footwork, good hands and a quick release that helps his average arm play up. Offensively, he’s made plenty of contact against top-notch pitching in summer showcases and has steadily gotten stronger, giving hope that he eventually could be an average hitter with average power.

The Future: Stafura can make any concerns stemming from his rough debut disappear with a strong start in the Florida State League. To make that happen, he’s going to need to make better swing decisions and better recognize breaking balls.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50

Draft Prospects

School: Walter Panas HS, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Clemson
Age At Draft: 18.7
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 60. Field: 55. Arm: 50.

A strong offensive performer on the summer circuit, Stafura has been on an upward trajectory over the past year that has continued this spring. A bouncy, quick-twitch athlete, Stafura has added size, strength and speed while retaining his athleticism, checking a lot of boxes for scouts. He’s a high-contact hitter with a compact, explosive swing and a two-hand finish. He has posted big numbers this spring, albeit in a small home field at his high school that’s especially hitter-friendly from center field over to right. His approach serves him well there, hammering middle-away pitches to the middle of the park and the opposite way, though in the summer he did have trouble at times against pitches on the inner third. Added strength and a swing path with more lift than it had last summer has helped Stafura produce more power, with a chance to be a 20-25 home run hitter. He’s a plus runner who impressed scouts with his defense. He has a quick first step and ranges well to both sides, playing low to the ground with good body control and soft hands. Stafura doesn’t have a rocket arm for plays deep in the hole, drawing 50 to 55 grades on the 20-80 scale, but he has a quick release and a good internal clock. Stafura is in consideration for teams at the back of the first round and shouldn’t last much longer than that if he doesn’t get picked there.