With the 37th pick of the 2019 MLB amateur draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected high school outfielder Sammy Siani out of Pennsylvania.
The pick was awarded to the Pirates as a result of not coming to terms with 2018 supplemental pick Gunnar Hoglund last year.
The 18-year-old outfielder has a smooth left-handed swing that has helped him make contact against some of the better prep arms in the United States. However, he does chase first pitches out of the zone and his smaller frame might limit his ability to hit with power.
Siani's big performance at the Tournament of Stars and East Coast Pro Showcase has caught the attention of scouts. His brother Mike Siani went in the fourth round last year and ended up signing with the Cincinnati Reds. Sammy might end up joining him in the pros if he doesn't end up going to Duke.
Bio
Age: 18
Position: OF
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds
Bats/Throws: L/L
School: Penn Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.)
NCAA commit: Duke
Pick value (No. 37): $1,999,300
MLB.com money quote: "It's not always easy to get good looks at cold-weather high school players, so teams thinking about taking him in the top two rounds and signing him away from his Duke commitment might be doing so based on his strong summer performances. Those who dream on him see a little Andrew Benintendi in him, who didn't blossom until his sophomore year of college."
Take a look...
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)
