Sammy Stafura, a native of Westchester County, New York, has joined the New York Mets organization following a trade announced on Monday. The Mets acquired the 21-year-old shortstop prospect from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Luke Weaver. As part of the deal, the Mets will also pay approximately $6.5 million to the Pirates to cover part of Weaver’s contract, which extends through the 2027 season.

Stafura was ranked as the Pirates’ No. 9 prospect prior to the trade, making him the second-highest-rated young player the Mets received in a series of transactions leading up to Monday’s trade deadline. Among the group of prospects obtained, infielder Jefferson Rojas—formerly with the Chicago Cubs and ranked as their No. 2 prospect—holds the highest rating.

A standout athlete in high school, Stafura led Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, New York, to a 19-1 record during his senior season. The team secured a sectional championship and advanced to the state finals, marking some of the best years in the program’s history. His high school coach, Anthony Fata, emphasized Stafura’s defensive skills and leadership on the field, describing him as a "sparkplug" who made difficult plays seem effortless.

Originally committed to Clemson University, Stafura instead signed with the Cincinnati Reds after being selected in the second round of the 2023 MLB draft. He was subsequently traded to the Pirates last year in the deal that sent Ke’Bryan Hayes to Cincinnati.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns highlighted Stafura’s defensive abilities as his standout attribute. Fata corroborated this, noting that Stafura never hesitated to put in extra work, often taking 100 ground balls after practice, contributing significantly to his development.

In addition to his defense, Stafura has attracted attention this season for a recent surge in power hitting. Over the past month, he has hit 14 home runs and entered Tuesday’s games with a .276 batting average, .367 on-base percentage, and a .593 slugging percentage across 60 games at two Single-A levels, totaling 20 homers.

Fata reflected on Stafura’s journey to the Mets, expressing pride in his former player’s achievements and describing him as a dedicated and hardworking athlete who has made a lasting impact on the high school program.