Sammy Stafura grew into MLB draft prospect, Clemson commit
Editor’s note: The Cincinnati Reds selected SS Sammy Stafura with the No. 43 pick in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft on July 9.
MOHEGAN LAKE, N.Y. (BVM) – The Northeast is a hard place to make a name for yourself in the high school baseball circuit, but Sammy Stafura has not had that issue. The Walter Panas High School shortstop hit .516 this past season while slugging 1.107%.
He is the No. 25 prospect in this year’s MLB draft class according to The Athletic’s Keith Law.
Sammy Stafura, SS, ('23 NY)@panas_baseball @ClemsonBaseball
2nd look at Stafura this spring. 3 XBH including this pull side dong. Used whole field well. Added strength evident but has maintained twitch/quickness. Bouncy actions at SS w/good internal clock. Legit draft helium pic.twitter.com/eEwxcQrFDN
— Brian Recca (@brian_recca) May 5, 2023
The 6-foot, 188-pound middle-infielder does not really have a weakness in his game. He is a hit machine and has really grown into his power over the past year or so. Stafura is smooth defensively which should allow him to stick at shortstop long-term.
Stafura, a first-generation American with Slovakian parents, found baseball through his brother. His father grew up on tennis, soccer and hockey, but he let Sammy’s sibling try out baseball.
All of the other kids in the stands would go off and play wall ball, but Sammy would sit behind the plate and be locked in with every single pitch in his brother’s game.
“It just took off from there,” Sammy said.
Sammy started to play around the age of 10, but it did not come easy early on. He lacked the size of his peers, resulting in him starting on the junior varsity team, known at Walter Panas High School as the B team, while many of his friends were on the A-team.
Stafura worked hard and trusted the process, and eventually, strength came for him.
Walter Panas slugger Sammy Stafura with his 6 💣 of season! pic.twitter.com/j26wwmocIP
— Scott (@Scottibus713) May 4, 2023
“It was an interesting process with a lot of hard work,” Stafura said. “It was all worth it. I knew if I wanted to do it, I could do it.”
He made waves in terms of the progress of his game, but it was still hard to receive the attention of top colleges due to his location. Stafura took it upon himself for that not to be an excuse.
Stafura began reaching out to schools via email sharing his social media platforms, videos and statistics and would eventually hear back from Clemson. He committed to the Tigers in the summer leading up to his junior year.
I am proud to announce my commitment to Clemson University. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way and thank you to the Clemson coaching staff for giving me this amazing opportunity. Go tigers! @ClemsonBaseball @BradleyLeCroy @MonteLeeCU pic.twitter.com/VZJo5NsKqu
— Samuel Stafura (@SamuelStafura) July 23, 2021
“It felt like family,” Stafura said. “The baseball facility is amazing. I love everything about the school.”
Stafura is a prime candidate to be selected early in the 2023 MLB Draft, but that is not something he will focus on until the time comes.
“I’m big on controlling the controllables,” Stafura said. “If it happens, it happens.”
His unique situation for his area is something that attracts extra attention, but that is something he enjoys.
2023 shortstop Sammy Stafura delivers the walk-off home run in the playoffs yesterday—his second home run of the day—to send Walter Panas HS in New York to the championship game.
Big name to watch trending up for the MLB draft. pic.twitter.com/ssJB7nY77P
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 23, 2023
“There’s obviously a lot of pressure to it and I really just enjoy every single moment,” Stafura said. “I just try to be myself. The pressure makes it fun.”
Anthony Volpe is the latest Northeastern-born shortstop to get a crack at the show, and if all goes to plan, Stafura will join him in the near future.
“One of the biggest goals is to get to the MLB and stay in the MLB,” Stafura said. “A lot of people have the goal to just play in the MLB, but I want to stay there and do my job on the team. To be a phenomenal player with a long-lasting career.”
