Mike Siani

Position: CF
Level: Minor League Spring Training
Affiliate: Reds A-
League: Minor League Spring Training
Born: 07/16/1999 (Age: 24)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: 4th Rd., 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft (CIN)

Prospect Spotlight

Signed to a well over-slot bonus ($2 million) in the fourth round last year to pass on his University of Virginia commitment, I got a look at Siani on the Arizona backfields this spring. He showed some improvements at the plate since his pro debut last summer, looking the the same general type of player overall from a tools standpoint.

Siani’s athleticism jumps off the page. He’s an elite defender in CF who frequently finishes highlight reel plays in the outfield. His speed and glovework both are potentially game-changing tools, things that give him the floor of at least a role player even if his bat winds up light of everyday production. A cold-weather prep player from the Philadelphia area, the Reds are banking on Siani’s athleticism to translate into offensive gains once he gets more pro reps. Skipped over the AZL entirely, he held his own last summer in the Appalachian League (.288/.351/.386) but showed trouble staying short to the ball or generating hard aerial contact. He showed a more compact swing in my spring looks, spraying line drives with the batspeed to catch up to premium velocity. Siani has the speed to be a solid contributor with the bat so long as he makes contact, a plus runner that projects to rack up steals.

Siani could be an everyday player on the strength of his defense and potential to hit for average. He’s athletic enough that his ceiling could look much higher once he gets another full year or two of pro at-bats under his belt. Likely to head to Low-A Dayton to start 2019, Siani could move up prospect lists by showing developments at the plate in full-season ball.