Stafura showing tools needed to be an 'impact player' for Reds

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- Athleticism and above-average speed are huge parts of Reds shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura's game. This season back with Single-A Daytona, Stafura is showing development of other tools and giving the organization optimism he can eventually put it all together.

"The tools are there to be an impact player," Reds player development director Jeremy Farrell said on Friday.

Stafura, 20, is ranked by MLB Pipeline as Cincinnati's No. 8 prospect. In 2023, he was taken in the second round of the Draft out of Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

In 34 games this season for the Tortugas, Stafura is batting .277/.404/.454 with three home runs, 16 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

Twice this month while hitting at the top of the order, Stafura hit two of his homers -- including one that opened a game vs. Dunedin on May 4. On Wednesday in a loss to St. Lucie, he went 3-for-4 and scored a run.

"He has only played shortstop thus far," Farrell said. "We feel there is enough athleticism and arm strength to play shortstop, second base or third base. He's at his best when he’s aggressive and he loves to work and play. He has normal development areas for a high school player from cold weather. He's working on getting to a consistent strong hitting position at the plate."

Although a small sample size, Stafura struggled after being drafted in his first pro season in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Getting a full season in 2024 -- first with the ACL Reds and then Daytona -- he slashed .270/.387/.412 with six homers, 54 RBIs and 31 stolen bases over a combined 93 games that were more indicative of his ability.

According to MLB Pipeline, Stafura's scouting grade is 45 for power, but 65 for running. On the 20-80 scouting grade scale, 50 is average.

"He’s a plus-runner who gives effort so it plays out of the box and on the bases," Farrell said.

During the offseason, Stafura was pleased with how that first true pro year went and the needed adjustment.

“Just every day waking up and getting to the field and having a game every single day. Being from New York, I played baseball [games] maybe two to three times a week," Stafura said in January. "So I had to come into a season that’s six days a week. Honestly, I felt amazing but it was a grind.

“I tried to control the controllable and go day-by-day. At the end of the season, I looked back and had a very good season."

Elsewhere in the Reds' player development system …

Triple-A Louisville

Moved up from Double-A on May 9, outfielder/first baseman Jack Rogers is off to a nice start for the Bats. Rogers had a three-hit, three-RBI game on Wednesday and a pair of two-hit games. In 26 games combined, the 2021 ninth-rounder is batting .341/.396/.439 with 20 RBIs.

Double-A Chattanooga

In his latest start on Wednesday, No. 1 prospect Chase Burns (No. 11 overall) gave up one run and two hits -- including a homer -- over five innings with no walks and seven strikeouts and took a loss vs. Birmingham. It was the second time in three starts that Burns did not allow a walk.

In seven starts, Burns has a 2.35 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP combined at Chattanooga and High-A Dayton. He was the second overall pick in 2024 by the Reds.

High-A Dayton

During Friday's 6-4 win over Quad Cities, catcher Connor Burns hit two home runs and had multi-hit performances in three of four games. Burns has four homers overall, but is batting only .181. He was a fifth-round selection in 2023.

ACL Reds

Shortstop Tyson Lewis, the organization's No. 9 prospect, is having a good start to his pro career. Lewis, who was taken in the second round in 2024, hit his first home run in the third inning of his second game against the ACL Rangers. The exit velocity registered at 114.8 mph, the fifth-hardest homer recorded by any Minor League batter this season.

On Monday in his debut vs. the ACL Mariners, a Lewis single showed exit velocity of 119.4 mph -- the second-hardest hit on record by any Minor Leaguer in 2025.