#9 1B Dominic Smith (LR: #17)
Bats: L Throws: L
Height: 6' 0" Weight: 185 lb
Age: 19
Acquired: 2013 Rule 4 Draft, 1st Round, Serra High School (California)
2013: (R) .301/.398/.439, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 2 SB (33%), 26 BB, 37 K
Without question, Dominic Smith has been Sandy Alderson's most successful draft pick so far and he only has 1 rookie season under his belt so far. Smith has already been voted as the MLB's #2 1B prospect in the game and narrowly just missed making it on the MLB Top 100. Scouts absolutely RAVE about his advanced plate presence that generated a 12.6% BB rate and a 17.9% K rate at the Rookie Ball Level. Numbers like those this early in a career is astounding for a teenager.
Dom Smith brings excellent bat speed, some raw power, and a smooth swing with only a mild uppercut hitch. He already plays average defense and could end up being a plus defender at 1B. Early MLB projections already see him as a future .280 -.300 AVG, 20 -25 HR type hitter which would be a wonderful considering what the Mets have gotten from the 1B position over the past few years.
Baseball America rated him as "the best pure prep hitter in the 2013 Draft class." His batting line his senior year backs that claim. Just look at these numbers: .493/.644/1.030, 7 HR, 28 BB, 8 K. MLB.com also stated that "He looks like the total package at first base, combining solid athleticism and defense with a sweet left-handed swing." So far everyone seems to be in his corner.
Many in he organization feel that his approach is far advanced enough that he warrants a promotion to a full season league next year. With all the talk I have heard so far about him, I'm inclined to agree. The only other 1B that could possibly make the jump up to Savannah as well is Matthew Oberste, but his poor performance in Brooklyn leads me to believe that the club could keep him in Extended Spring Training until Brooklyn opens back up.
Anticipated Assignment: (A) Savannah Sand Gnats starting 1B
Ceiling: Multiple time All-Star/Gold Glove MLB 1B. Premium #3 hitter talent.
Floor: Bust
5 comments:
Chris,
Good write up. You killed me with that "bust" as his floor. I was hoping to see AAAA/MLB bench player, even at his young age.
@TP
Well...its just still so early in his career that we realistically cannot claim that he's a sure-fire mlb player.
His floor probably will end up being a back-up 1B but until we see him outside of rookie ball we just don't really know.
Dom's not going to like ready the 'bust' word... :)
Perhaps......"unknown" would have been a better word.
the auto correct changed 'reading' to 'really'... God, I have a hard enough time....
Smith totally motivates himself and is unfazed by the media. Quite an accomplishment for a young man his age.
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