Michael Siani

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #19 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: After a lost 2021 season that saw miss time in the outfield because of an elbow injury and lost at times at the plate, Siani had a much better 2022. He raised his batting average and on-base percentage and actually hit for more power as well. He hit a career high 14 home runs, stole an organization best 52 bases and made his MLB debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Siani took a step forward in 2022 because he tried to do less. He toned down his swing, aiming less to lift the ball for home runs and focusing more on making contact. That helped him dramatically reduce his strikeout rate, but he actually found the gaps more as well, making his below-average power get into play more regularly. That's important because Siani is a truly exceptional defender in center. He's a plus-plus center fielder who flags down balls in the gap and is fearless going back to the wall. He also has a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Siani's improved approach helps put him back into the Reds' long-term plans. He may not have the bat to be a regular, but his defense and speed make him a viable No. 4 outfielder who could play his way into a larger role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Field: 70. Run: 60. Arm: 60.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #30 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Mike is the oldest of a trio of baseball-playing brothers. An elbow injury meant Mike couldn’t play in the outfield until late May. He struggled to hit all season, but hit .300/.451/.450 with 10 steals in 14 games in the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.
  
  Scouting Report: Siani is an exceptional center fielder defensively. He is fearless and has the mentality that any ball hit anywhere near center field should end up in his glove. His plus-plus defense would make him the Reds best defensive center fielder since Billy Hamilton was in his prime. He’s also a plus runner and has a plus arm. But he hits for neither average nor power. Siani tries to drive the ball with a pull-heavy approach that relies on getting balls he can drive on the inner third of the plate. He doesn’t really do much when he gets those pitches thanks to below-average power and the length to his swing. He was surprisingly bad against righthanders in 2021.
  
  The Future: Siani’s glove will buy him extra time to work through his offensive issues, but no center fielder gets to play if they don’t hit at all. Siani has to make more and better contact in 2022.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #10 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Lefthanded hitting outfielders run in the Siani family. Mike received an overslot $2 million bonus as a fourth-round pick in 2018, his younger brother Sammy was a supplemental first round pick of the Pirates in 2019, and youngest brother Jake is a top draft prospect for 2021. Mike struggled some in his pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League, but the Reds still brought him to their alternate training site at the end of the 2020 season..
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani faces questions about his bat, but there’s little doubt about his defense. He is a plus runner with excellent range in center field and has Gold Glove potential. He gets excellent jumps, runs precise routes and has a plus arm that yielded 18 assists in his first pro season. Siani has a direct swing path but tends to overswing. He has a little bit of gap power that will likely improve as he matures and gets stronger, but he’s better suited to be a table-setter who uses the entire field and takes advantage of his plus speed on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani is years away from being ready for the majors as a hitter. His defense will buy him time to make the necessary approach and strength improvements.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Reds signed Siani for $2 million in 2018, a full $1 million more than any other fourth-round pick. After helping USA Baseball win the gold medal at the 18U World Cup, Siani showed a well-rounded game in the Rookie-level Appalachian League the following season. His first taste of full-season ball was a learning experience. The 19-year-old struck out 20 percent of the time but also led the Midwest League with 45 stolen bases.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani is a pure center fielder with plus defensive ability. He is athletic with excellent body control and gets good jumps into both gaps. Siani's arm is plus with natural carry, and his footspeed is also plus. For a teenager, he shows the ability to take proper routes and closes well on fly balls. While Siani's bat path stays direct to the ball, he tends to overswing, which causes his contact ability to suffer. As he matures, his bat should develop to make more consistent contact and take advantage of his average raw power.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani will start the 2020 season with high Class A Daytona. While he has flaws to his game, he's young and is a solid all-around outfielder in a Reds system that lacks depth in center field.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Reds went over slot to ink Siani in 2018, signing him for $2 million--a full $1 million more than any other fourth-round pick. He highlighted his 2017 amateur season by helping USA Baseball win gold at the 18U World Cup. He showed a well-rounded game in his pro debut at Rookie-level Greeneville, hitting .288/.351/.386.
  
  Scouting Report: For a recent high school pick, Siani shows an advanced understanding of the game, especially when he roams center field. He stays under control and shows poise. He gets a good first step on his reads and takes solid routes. He is very athletic, and it shows on both sides of the ball. Siani’s plus arm and speed make him a safe bet to remain in center field. He uses a small leg kick with minimal loading to stay short to the ball, though his contact ability suffers from a tendency to get big and swing for the fences. Siani’s bat is relatively well refined for a young hitter and he projects to have average productive power to go with an average bat.
  
  The Future: Siani will head to low Class A Dayton in 2019. Center field is one of the thinnest positions in the Reds’ system, so the path is clear for his advancement. He’s more solid than spectacular, but he has few glaring flaws.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #53 prospect in 2018 draft
  Pennsylvania's top draft prospect, Siani is a potential five-tool outfielder who is among the best defensive center fielders in the class with the tools and instincts that could eventually turn him into a 70-grade defender. He has a plus-plus arm and is a plus runner, which plays in the outfield and on the bases, where he is a disruptive runner. The Virginia commit also has a solid track record hitting against better pitching and some scouts think he might have an above-average or better hit tool down the line. He was a two-year member of USA Baseball's 18U National Team, where he hit .333/.409/.487 with seven stolen bases in eight attempts from the leadoff spot and played a terrific center field for the gold medal-winning team last summer. Power is a question mark with Siani, as he has a tendency to slap the ball around and roll over on pitches and there's not much physical projection left to give him. Evaluators like Siani's makeup and admire his grinder, no-holds-barred style of play.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked National League #6 prospect in 2018
  The Reds snagged Siani in the fourth round this year and went well over slot to sign him for $2 million. The lefthanded hitter is seen as a high-floor prep player with excellent tools in his plus speed, defense and arm. Some scouts optimistically put a future average grade on Siani’s hit tool because they wonder about his swing-and-miss tendencies. Others project overall above-average hitting ability and believe his tool set will allow him to become an all star-caliber player. Siani has more room for error than most high school players thanks to his plus range in center field.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: After a lost 2021 season that saw miss time in the outfield because of an elbow injury and lost at times at the plate, Siani had a much better 2022. He raised his batting average and on-base percentage and actually hit for more power as well. He hit a career high 14 home runs, stole an organization best 52 bases and made his MLB debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Siani took a step forward in 2022 because he tried to do less. He toned down his swing, aiming less to lift the ball for home runs and focusing more on making contact. That helped him dramatically reduce his strikeout rate, but he actually found the gaps more as well, making his below-average power get into play more regularly. That's important because Siani is a truly exceptional defender in center. He's a plus-plus center fielder who flags down balls in the gap and is fearless going back to the wall. He also has a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Siani's improved approach helps put him back into the Reds' long-term plans. He may not have the bat to be a regular, but his defense and speed make him a viable No. 4 outfielder who could play his way into a larger role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Field: 70. Run: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: After a lost 2021 season that saw miss time in the outfield because of an elbow injury and lost at times at the plate, Siani had a much better 2022. He raised his batting average and on-base percentage and actually hit for more power as well. He hit a career high 14 home runs, stole an organization best 52 bases and made his MLB debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Siani took a step forward in 2022 because he tried to do less. He toned down his swing, aiming less to lift the ball for home runs and focusing more on making contact. That helped him dramatically reduce his strikeout rate, but he actually found the gaps more as well, making his below-average power get into play more regularly. That's important because Siani is a truly exceptional defender in center. He's a plus-plus center fielder who flags down balls in the gap and is fearless going back to the wall. He also has a plus arm.
  
  The Future: Siani's improved approach helps put him back into the Reds' long-term plans. He may not have the bat to be a regular, but his defense and speed make him a viable No. 4 outfielder who could play his way into a larger role.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Field: 70. Run: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Mike is the oldest of a trio of baseball-playing brothers. An elbow injury meant Mike couldn’t play in the outfield until late May. He struggled to hit all season, but hit .300/.451/.450 with 10 steals in 14 games in the Arizona Fall League after the regular season.
  
  Scouting Report: Siani is an exceptional center fielder defensively. He is fearless and has the mentality that any ball hit anywhere near center field should end up in his glove. His plus-plus defense would make him the Reds best defensive center fielder since Billy Hamilton was in his prime. He’s also a plus runner and has a plus arm. But he hits for neither average nor power. Siani tries to drive the ball with a pull-heavy approach that relies on getting balls he can drive on the inner third of the plate. He doesn’t really do much when he gets those pitches thanks to below-average power and the length to his swing. He was surprisingly bad against righthanders in 2021.
  
  The Future: Siani’s glove will buy him extra time to work through his offensive issues, but no center fielder gets to play if they don’t hit at all. Siani has to make more and better contact in 2022.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Lefthanded hitting outfielders run in the Siani family. Mike received an overslot $2 million bonus as a fourth-round pick in 2018, his younger brother Sammy was a supplemental first round pick of the Pirates in 2019, and youngest brother Jake is a top draft prospect for 2021. Mike struggled some in his pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League, but the Reds still brought him to their alternate training site at the end of the 2020 season..
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani faces questions about his bat, but there's little doubt about his defense. He is a plus runner with excellent range in center field and has Gold Glove potential. He gets excellent jumps, runs precise routes and has a plus arm that yielded 18 assists in his first pro season. Siani has a direct swing path but tends to overswing. He has a little bit of gap power that will likely improve as he matures and gets stronger, but he's better suited to be a table-setter who uses the entire field and takes advantage of his plus speed on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani is years away from being ready for the majors as a hitter. His defense will buy him time to make the necessary approach and strength improvements.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Lefthanded hitting outfielders run in the Siani family. Mike received an overslot $2 million bonus as a fourth-round pick in 2018, his younger brother Sammy was a supplemental first round pick of the Pirates in 2019, and youngest brother Jake is a top draft prospect for 2021. Mike struggled some in his pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League, but the Reds still brought him to their alternate training site at the end of the 2020 season..
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani faces questions about his bat, but there’s little doubt about his defense. He is a plus runner with excellent range in center field and has Gold Glove potential. He gets excellent jumps, runs precise routes and has a plus arm that yielded 18 assists in his first pro season. Siani has a direct swing path but tends to overswing. He has a little bit of gap power that will likely improve as he matures and gets stronger, but he’s better suited to be a table-setter who uses the entire field and takes advantage of his plus speed on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani is years away from being ready for the majors as a hitter. His defense will buy him time to make the necessary approach and strength improvements.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 70. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Lefthanded hitting outfielders run in the Siani family. Mike received an overslot $2 million bonus as a fourth-round pick in 2018, his younger brother Sammy was a supplemental first round pick of the Pirates in 2019, and youngest brother Jake is a top draft prospect for 2021. Mike struggled some in his pro debut in the low Class A Midwest League, but the Reds still brought him to their alternate training site at the end of the 2020 season..
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani faces questions about his bat, but there’s little doubt about his defense. He is a plus runner with excellent range in center field and has Gold Glove potential. He gets excellent jumps, runs precise routes and has a plus arm that yielded 18 assists in his first pro season. Siani has a direct swing path but tends to overswing. He has a little bit of gap power that will likely improve as he matures and gets stronger, but he’s better suited to be a table-setter who uses the entire field and takes advantage of his plus speed on the bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani is years away from being ready for the majors as a hitter. His defense will buy him time to make the necessary approach and strength improvements.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Reds signed Siani for $2 million in 2018, a full $1 million more than any other fourth-round pick. After helping USA Baseball win the gold medal at the 18U World Cup, Siani showed a well-rounded game in the Rookie-level Appalachian League the following season. His first taste of full-season ball was a learning experience. The 19-year-old struck out 20 percent of the time but also led the Midwest League with 45 stolen bases.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani is a pure center fielder with plus defensive ability. He is athletic with excellent body control and gets good jumps into both gaps. Siani’s arm is plus with natural carry, and his footspeed is also plus. For a teenager, he shows the ability to take proper routes and closes well on fly balls. While Siani’s bat path stays direct to the ball, he tends to overswing, which causes his contact ability to suffer. As he matures, his bat should develop to make more consistent contact and take advantage of his average raw power.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani will start the 2020 season with high Class A Daytona. While he has flaws to his game, he’s young and is a solid all-around outfielder in a Reds system that lacks depth in center field.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Reds signed Siani for $2 million in 2018, a full $1 million more than any other fourth-round pick. After helping USA Baseball win the gold medal at the 18U World Cup, Siani showed a well-rounded game in the Rookie-level Appalachian League the following season. His first taste of full-season ball was a learning experience. The 19-year-old struck out 20 percent of the time but also led the Midwest League with 45 stolen bases.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Siani is a pure center fielder with plus defensive ability. He is athletic with excellent body control and gets good jumps into both gaps. Siani's arm is plus with natural carry, and his footspeed is also plus. For a teenager, he shows the ability to take proper routes and closes well on fly balls. While Siani's bat path stays direct to the ball, he tends to overswing, which causes his contact ability to suffer. As he matures, his bat should develop to make more consistent contact and take advantage of his average raw power.
  
  THE FUTURE: Siani will start the 2020 season with high Class A Daytona. While he has flaws to his game, he's young and is a solid all-around outfielder in a Reds system that lacks depth in center field.