The Pittsburgh Pirates prospect has been one of the best hitters during the Arizona Fall LEa

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is often seen as a proving ground for prospects who are looking to make a lasting impression, elevate their skills, and gain some momentum as they prepare for the upcoming season. For many players, the AFL serves as an opportunity to show how much they’ve grown, fine-tune their game, and get in some valuable at-bats against top-tier competition. One player who has made the most of this opportunity is Pittsburgh Pirates outfield prospect Sammy Siani. Through 17 games in the AFL, Siani has been a standout performer, showing improvements in nearly every aspect of his game and continuing to build on a solid 2024 season.

Siani’s performance in the AFL has been a continuation of a strong campaign where he reached Double-A Altoona for the first time in his career and showed the promise that had made him a highly regarded prospect when the Pirates selected him in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. The 23-year-old outfielder has been one of the top hitters in the AFL, turning heads with his bat and proving that his recent improvements at the plate aren’t just a flash in the pan.

On Wednesday, Siani provided yet another example of his growing power and consistency with the bat in a game against the Peoria Javelinas. In the Scottsdale Scorpions’ 8-1 victory, Siani went 2-for-3, adding a solo home run and two RBIs to his totals. The home run was his third of the AFL season, and his 16 RBIs put him among the league leaders in that category. But beyond just the raw statistics, Siani’s approach at the plate has undergone a significant transformation that has played a big role in his success, both in the AFL and during the 2024 season.

Siani’s strong play in the AFL is part of a larger trend of improvement that began earlier this year. After three seasons in the lower levels of the minors, Siani made significant strides at the plate in 2024. Reaching Double-A Altoona for the first time, he showed his power with nine home runs and 48 RBIs, marking his second consecutive season with that level of production. However, it was his improvement in other areas of his game that really stood out. His batting average saw a marked improvement, going from a modest .231 in 2023 to a much more respectable .265 this year. His on-base percentage and slugging percentage also improved, and he demonstrated the ability to make more consistent contact and limit strikeouts.

The change in Siani’s performance can largely be attributed to a series of adjustments he made to his swing, which have allowed him to take better advantage of fastballs and become a more dangerous hitter. Siani himself explained these changes in a recent interview with MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo. One of the biggest adjustments Siani made was altering his swing path. “The big thing was fixing my path, flattening that out, getting to more fastballs and doing the things I know I’m really good at,” Siani said. “It’s been huge for me. It’s been really, really helpful, minimizing strikeouts, just putting the ball in play.”

This new, flatter swing path has allowed Siani to get on top of fastballs more effectively, and it’s also helped him reduce the number of strikeouts he’s had to deal with. A key aspect of his improvement has been his ability to hunt fastballs and adjust his approach based on what the pitcher is throwing. He explained that instead of trying to chase pitches that are outside of his hitting zone, he focused on identifying fastballs early in the count and taking advantage of those opportunities. By doing so, Siani has been able to significantly increase his contact rate and put himself in better positions to hit for both average and power.

This improvement has been on full display in the AFL, where Siani has been nothing short of dominant. As of now, he ranks second in the league with a .407 batting average. He’s also among the top ten in several other major offensive categories, including hits (24), RBIs (16), on-base percentage (.478), slugging percentage (.610), and OPS (1.088). His performance has been a clear indication that the adjustments he made to his swing and his approach at the plate have been effective, and that he’s ready to take the next step in his development.

Siani’s most recent home run against Peoria on Wednesday was a perfect example of how he’s been able to capitalize on his newfound swing adjustments. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with a 1-0 count, Siani turned on a cutter from Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect Landon Harper and sent it sailing over the right-center field wall for a solo shot. Afterward, Siani explained that his focus was on staying on the fastball and waiting for the cutter to come down the middle of the plate. “I knew he was a fastball-cutter-slider guy,” Siani said. “For me, it was stay on the fastball, see him middle-away and wait for that cutter to come down the middle and stay in front of it. And that’s what I tried to do.” His ability to recognize the pitch early and make a strong, controlled swing was the result of all the work he had put in during the offseason to refine his approach.

While the home run itself was impressive, it’s Siani’s ability to make consistent contact and avoid swinging and missing that has been the biggest key to his success. Siani has long been known for his ability to make solid contact and use all fields, but this new approach has given him a much more aggressive and efficient swing that allows him to capitalize on fastballs while still being able to make adjustments when pitchers try to throw breaking balls or off-speed pitches. In short, Siani has become a more well-rounded hitter and has done a better job of limiting his weaknesses.

His improved ability to make contact has been especially valuable in a league like the AFL, where pitchers often feature a wide variety of pitches and off-speed stuff to challenge hitters. Siani’s ability to make adjustments and recognize pitches early in the count has allowed him to be more effective against this type of pitching, and he’s done so without sacrificing his ability to hit for power.

As his AFL performance shows, Siani has learned how to take advantage of his natural talent and make it work at a higher level. His plate discipline has improved, his ability to hit fastballs has become more refined, and his ability to recognize pitches and adjust has helped him avoid chasing balls out of the zone. All of these things point to a player who is ready to take the next step in his development and one who could soon make an impact at the major league level.

For the Pirates, Siani’s continued success in the AFL and his growth throughout 2024 have provided optimism for the future. His ability to improve as a hitter and refine his swing suggests that he has the potential to be a key contributor for the Pirates’ outfield in the near future. With his combination of power, speed, and defensive ability, Siani has the tools to develop into an important piece of the Pirates’ rebuild, and his performance in the AFL has only served to strengthen that belief.

As Siani continues to impress in the Arizona Fall League, the hope is that his strong play will carry over into the 2025 season and beyond. The Pirates have long been looking for reliable young players who can help them contend in the tough National League Central division, and Siani’s ability to adjust, improve, and continue to perform at a high level is a positive sign for the team moving forward. Whether it’s his batting average, power numbers, or overall consistency, Siani has proven that he’s one of the top prospects in the Pirates’ system, and he’s done so by taking the necessary steps to elevate his game to the next level. With continued development, Sammy Siani could soon be a mainstay in the Pirates’ lineup for years to come.