Minor League Mondays: Sammy Stafura Has A Chance To Make Dreams Come True With Hometown Team
There are only two weeks left in the MLB regular season and the minor league season is already winding down. The lower levels have concluded play, with only AAA Syracuse still having games to go. One intriguing player who finished his year in Brooklyn is deadline addition Sammy Stafura, who is the focus of this week's edition of Minor League Mondays.
Stafura, 21, was a second-round pick out of Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor by the Cincinnati Reds in 2023. After signing for an over-slot bonus of $2.5 million, Stafura began his professional career in the Reds' organization before getting dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the 2025 trade deadline in a deal that sent Ke'Bryan Hayes to Cincinnati. Stafura had a breakthrough July for the Pirates' High-A affiliate in Greensboro, batting .358 with 14 home runs, 35 RBI and a 1.305 OPS in 19 games.
That performance attracted the attention of the Mets, who got him back from Pittsburgh as the return in the Luke Weaver trade. The deal marked a homecoming for Stafura, who grew up in Northern Westchester as a Mets' fan and expressed immediate enthusiasm for his new organization.
The Mets assigned Stafura to High-A Brooklyn to finish out his first year in the organization. Stafura predictably cooled off upon his arrival on Coney Island, batting .244 with two home runs, 5 RBI and a .772 OPS. The Cyclones did see Stafura flash some impressive leather though as he made a number of highlight plays at shortstop.
Scouts like what they see from Stafura, the Mets' No. 7 prospect according to MLB.com, as a defender. Stafura is a plus defender at shortstop and has both the arm and range to handle second or third as well. Few players in the Mets' organization are as fast as Stafura, who has racked up over 20 steals in each of his first three pro seasons and has 65-grade speed on the 20-to-80 scale. A 65-grade is well above average in that department.
How high the ceiling can be for Stafura depends on how the Mets can develop his hit tool, which is the weakest in his tool box at a 40-grade. If the Mets can get Stafura to be a .250-ish hitter with the ability to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases that is the kind of player who can be a lineup staple for years to come.
Expect the Mets to challenge Stafura next season with a promotion to AA Binghamton, where shortstop reps should be available with Jefferson Rojas moving on up to AAA Syracuse. There is also a chance the Mets use Stafura as a trade chip over the winter, which could allow them to use him to fill another need area on the big league roster. Either way, Stafura's development should be an exciting avenue for the Mets to watch over the coming years.
Comments