TL;DR - Scouting Report
The Dodgers acquired Mike Sirota, a five-tool outfield prospect and grand nephew of HOP Yankees P Whitey Ford from the Reds for Gavin Lux. Learn about Sirota’s potential and why LA sees him as a future star.
Start the Rally: Tweet This Now!The Dodgers acquired outfield prospect Mike Sirota and a Competitive Balance Round A pick from the Reds Monday in exchange for infielder Gavin Lux.
But, just who is Sirota? Let’s dive in and have a look.
Mike Sirota – The Grand Nephew of a Hall of Fame Pitcher
Sirota, 21, is the grand nephew of late Yankees Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, who would share tales of his storied career in New York that spanned from 1950-1967 including winning six World Series, playing in 10 All-Star Games and winning the 1961 Cy Young Award.
“My perception of the sport was definitely altered from hearing some of those stories,” Sirota said. “Learning how those guys go about their business and implementing that into my routine and all that stuff.”
Ford cared greatly for Sirota, warning the future Dodgers prospect to keep a bat in his hands and not entertain the thought of pitching, or thoughts of hopping for lacrosse.
“He made sure that I kept a bat in my hands because he didn’t want me to pitch because he messed up his shoulder. He made sure my mom kept the lacrosse stick out of my hand too.”
Why the Dodgers Have Wanted Sirota Since 2021
Sirota was named MLB Pipeline’s No. 50 draft prospect entering the 2024 MLB Draft. However, realtively unknown in high school, he was selected 492nd overall by the Dodgers.
He chose not to sign, though, looking forward to a college baseball career at Northeastern University in Boston. There, in three seasons, he hit .324/.457/.576 with 29 HRs and 111 RBIs. Though, he set records for the most runs scored in a season (73) and broke former big leaguer Carlos Pena’s record of 59 walks in a season.
Sirota projects as a center fielder thanks to his plus speed. He hit 18 HRs as a sophomore, showing that there is some pop in his bat. It gives him the potential to be a 20-20 player one day.
Prior to his junior season, the right-handed hitter Sirota played in 33 games in the Cape Cod League, hitting .333 with 16 RBIs. Though, he wasn’t impressed with the results. He hit 16 doubles, two triples and seven HRs, slugging his way to a .513 slugging percentage.
“My knowledge of myself as a player is a lot better than most other people’s,” Sirota said. “What I came out of that with is just a bunch of information about myself, my swing, my demeanor at the plate, my process.”
“He’s an athletic center fielder,” said Reds amateur scouting director Joe Katuska. “He has five-tool potential. When you go underneath the hood on some of the stuff – his swing decisions, how he controls the zone, how hard he hits the ball – it’s all still there. He just ran into some bad luck this year, unfortunately.”
A Brief Look at Previous Dodgers Trades for Prospects
Was Sirota an underpay for the Reds to acquire Lux? The Dodgers see something in trying to bring Sirota’s potential to life.
Think about when the team traded outfielder Matt Beaty to the Padres for then-pitching prospect River Ryan.
Unfortunately Ryan got injured last season, but showed promise at the cost of a player coming off hitting .270/.363/.402 with 7 HRs, 40 RBIs and 35 runs scored in 120 games for the Dodgers in 2021.
Matt Beaty after he left the Dodgers in two seasons for the Padres, Giants and Royals: 50 at-bats hitting .173/.277/.240, no HRs, five RBIs and 14 runs scored in 104 at-bats.
Ryan, meanwhile, started four games for the Dodgers, going 1-0 with a 1.33 ERA, 3.36 FIP and 1.180 WHIP, striking out 18 and walking nine in 20.1 innings pitched.
Not saying Lux is going to bomb in Cincinnati, but Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman knows what he’s doing here in taking Sirota back from the Reds. After reports surfaced of the Mariners and Yankees’ interest in Lux, the Dodgers really must have liked the offer of Sirota and a pick to leap whatever was being offered by the other two teams.
Don’t forget the reported rumor that Lux was being entertained to be traded to the Brewers for reliever Devin Williams, too. There has been plenty on the table about Lux this offseason. He’s expected to be back at Dodger Stadium on August 25.
MLB Pipeline rates Sirota’s speed a 60 (out of 80) and says that while Sirota has some raw power in his bat, he is better known for his bat-to-ball skills.
It sounds like Sirota possesses the cleaner mentality to work hard to become somebody special. He could one day follow in his grand uncle’s footsteps and become a big leaguer, perhaps playing in a World Series.
Mike Sirota’s MLB Pipeline grades
- Hit: 50
- Power: 45
- Run: 60
- Arm: 55
- Field: 55
- Overall: 45
Where Mike Sirota Fits in the Dodgers’ System in 2025
After a rough start to his junior season in 2024, Sirota hit .298/.473/.513 with 7 HRs, 47 RBIs and 19 steals in 51 games. He was drafted by the Reds in the 3rd round, signing for $863,300.
He will make his professional debut for the Dodgers in 2025. He has an estimated MLB arrival of 2027 as the No. 22 prospect in the Dodgers system after being ranked No. 14 with the Reds.
Other names projected to arrive to the Dodgers in 2027 include 11th-ranked OF Zyhir Hope, 13th-ranked OF Kendall George, 17th-ranked RHP Hyun-Seok Jang. Those three players are expected to begin the season at Class-A, while Sirota will report to Rookie-level to begin his journey.
There’s plenty of competition for Sirota to blossom into the player he believes he can become and the one that both Whitey Ford and the Dodgers foresee.
It could be an overpay for Lux, or it could become a steal with time.
Let’s see what happens.
Your Turn: Why do you like the profile of Mike Sirota, Dodger fans? Tell us below in the comments!
