Pavin Smith Stats & Scouting Report College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects
TRACK RECORD: Smith was regarded as one of the best pure hitters in the 2017 draft and was selected seventh overall by the D-backs. He struggled at the start of his professional career, but turned things around midway through the 2019 season at Double-A Jackson. He pushed his way to the majors late in 2020, showing flashes of the kind of big leaguer he could become.
SCOUTING REPORT: In many ways, Smith is the same player he was coming out of college. He has excellent strike-zone awareness, good bat-to-ball skills and sneaky solid athleticism. The D-backs believe he also has made strides in other areas. He made adjustments to allow him to better stay back and hit the bottom of the ball at the alternate training site, translating to more power. He also has “transformed himself physically,” in the words of D-backs general manager Mike Hazen, adding speed and quickness. The club now feels comfortable with him in left and right field in addition to first base, where he is above-average. Smith has an above-average arm and is a fringe-average runner.
THE FUTURE: Smith turned in competitive at-bats during his September cameo. His ability to play the outfield increases his likelihood of impacting the 2021 roster.
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