John from Albany - The Alternative 50 Mets Prospects, #2 Kevin Smith

The next two players are on just about everyone’s top Mets prospect lists but are not rated as high. 

#2: Kevin Smith, Starting Pitcher, Bats Right, Throws Left, DOB 5/13/1997, 7th round, 2018 Draft.

Tom had Kevin as his #8 prospect. Mack had him at #21. Baseball America had Kevin Smith at #9. MLB.com also him at #9.  Mets 360.com had Kevin at #15. More links at the bottom.

After being drafted in 2018 and pitching just 23.2 innings for Brooklyn (4-1, 0.76 ERA, 28Ks, 6 Walks, 0.76 WHIP), Kevin was moved up to High A St. Lucie to start 2019.

In 17 Games, 85.2 innings for St. Lucie, Kevin went 5-5 with a 3.05 ERA, 102 Ks, 24 walks, 83 hits, 1.25 WHIP;

This earned him a late season promotion to Binghamton where he went 3-2, 3.45 ERA, 31.1 innings, 6 starts, 25 hits, 15 walks, 28 Ks, 1.28 WHIP.

Per Baseball Savant about his 2019 season: Among Mets farmhands who tossed at least 100 innings, Smith ranked first in strikeouts (130), strikeout rate (27.2 percent) and strikeout-to-walk rate (19 percent) and finished second in ERA (3.15).

All this earned him the Sterling Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

I saw Kevin pitch back in July 2018 up here in Troy as a member of the Cyclones.  The Starting Pitcher that night, he went two innings, throwing 33 pitches, 23 strikes, 1 hit, 2 Ks.  Though he only threw in the low 90’s, he looked really good.  He only went to three balls on one batter.  Outside of the single, just one more ball made it out of the infield on a line drive to right field.

Here is what Kevin told SNY.TV on what he brings to the mound: "6 foot 5 lefty, throw 89-92 mph on the fastball. I throw a 4 seam, 2 seam, slider and changeup and am a competitor who wants to go deep in games when I start. I give my all out there and will do whatever is necessary to help the team win."

Baseball Savant: He pitches with average velocity, typically sitting in the low 90s, but his heater plays at a higher effective velocity because he gets good extension to the plate and throws it with a high spin rate that nets him whiffs inside the zone. His late-biting slider gives him a second swing-and-miss offering, and he's made strides in developing a quality changeup since entering the pro ranks. Smith's long backside arm action and extension make him difficult to time, let alone square up, and he was particularly effective against left-handed hitters (.207/.271/.233) with his fastball-slider combo in 2019.

In college, Kevin was used both in relief and as a starter.  After starting 3 games and relieving 9 in 2018, the Mets only started Kevin in 2019.  His effectiveness against lefties, however, could find him in the majors as a reliever.

Back in January, I was thinking that Kevin had an outside chance to make the Mets this year.  This spring, however, Kevin has struggled: 4 games, 4.2 innings, 7.71 ERA, 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 Ks, 1.50 WHIP. 

Because the Syracuse rotation looks to be loaded, I think Kevin will start the 2020 season back in Binghamton. But things happen and Kevin could easily wind up being promoted to Syracuse, knocking on the door in Flushing.

Here is Kevin Smith’s FANGRAPHS page.

Here is Kevin Smith’s Baseball Savant page.

Video 7/31/19: Kevin Smith completes six scoreless innings against Erie with his sixth strikeout during his second Double-A start for Binghamton

YouTube: Kevin Smith Talks Pitcher Of The Year Award.

This is pretty cool – video of a Kevin Smith bullpen session from Rene Rivera’s perpective.

Ernest Dove video Kevin Smith records a K for St. Lucie Mets on opening night.

SNY.TV: Mets Prospect Q&A: LHP Kevin Smith, who could be a big league rotation option soon.

Metsmerized: MMO Top 30 Mets Prospects: No. 11 Kevin Smith, LHP

Metsmerized Interview with Kevin Smith.

Amazing Avenue: Top 25 Mets Prospects for 2020: 12, Kevin Smith.

213 Miles from Shea had Get to Know a Non-Roster Invitee: Kevin Smith.

Northjersey.com: Mets' prospect Kevin Smith has posted encouraging results thus far in young pro career.

Rising Apple: Mets of the Future: “Silent Bob” Kevin Smith is a lefty on the rise.