Pirates AFL Updates: Sammy Siani Continues Hot Start

Danny Demilio |

Oct 13, 2024

The Scottsdale Scorpions were fueled to a 10-2 win over the Glendale Desert Dogs on Saturday by Detroit Tigers Josue Briceño’s three home runs, but Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Sammy Siani also chipped in a good game with the bat.

Siani, the 37th pick in the 2019 draft, reached base three times, finishing 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and a pair of runs scored. Through the first five games of the AFL for the Scorpions, Siani is third on the team with a .385 batting average — fellow Pirates’ prospect Termarr Johnson is second at .400. Siani also carries a .429 on-base percentage and a .692 slug.

It’s an encouraging for Siani, who had middling results after his in-season promotion to Double-A Altoona this past year. In 96 games with the Curve after a hot start to the season in High-A Greensboro, Siani slashed .254/.325/.368.

Kervin Pichardo was also in the Scorpions’ lineup in Saturday’s win and went 1 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk. He put the Scottsdale up 2-0 in the bottom of the second with his two-bagger to center field.

A pair of Pirates’ pitching prospects combined for a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Eddy Yean allowed one hit and struck out a batter in the fifth. He was followed out of the bullpen by Brandan Bidois, who walked two but struck out three in the sixth.

The Scorpions (2-3) are off for the next two days but will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Mesa Solar Sox (3-2).