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
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