5/5/22

Mock Draft v3.0 - Pick 35 - LHP - Tristan Smith

 


Tristan Smith  

LHP      6-2     200      Boiling Springs (SC) 

47 1/3 innings pitched, 79 strikeouts, 1.25 WHIP

 

3-9-22 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-draft-top-400-prospects - 

15. Tristan Smith 

Left-Handed Pitcher, Boiling Springs HS 

Smith is one of the top lefties in a loaded 2022 prep class. A strong 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame, Smith fits the profile of a future power pitcher with a rather effortless, crossbody delivery with plenty of deception. Smith’s fastball has been clocked as high as 96 MPH, usually sitting in the 90-94 MPH range. It’s an explosive pitch that comes out of a tough angle with high spin rates. His primary secondary is a sweepy slider that has primarily sat in the high-70’s that he commands well. Much like the fastball, his breaking ball has huge spin rates, reaching as high as 3000 RPM. He rounds out his arsenal with a change-up in the low-80’s that he has good feel for. 

 

3-3-22 - Diamond Prospects  @diamondprospect 

Boiling Springs 2022 & Clemson signee Tristan Smith cruising at 91-94 up to 95 mph with legit hammer. 4K thru 2 innings. 

 https://t.co/zQBcAn2udr 

 

2-26-22 - Drew Stewart™️ @Stewie_2 

Tristan Smith (2022 LHP) electric early in this one. Has K’d 6 of 9 batters faced. Wipeout Slider with the FB having late tail on RHH. 

FB | 91-94 T95

SL | 79-82 

https://t.co/MZWzD4rs5v 

 

2-11-22 - https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-draft-prospects-2022-ranking-top-50-players-in-the-class-with-termarr-johnson-at-no-1/?s=03 - 

33. Tristan Smith, LHP, Boiling Springs HS (SC) 

Smith, as with his fellow Clemson commit Brock Porter, has experienced his share of command-related concerns. It may not matter. He authored an eye-opening performance at the Perfect Game National Showcase last summer, striking out all six batters he faced on the strength of two spin-heavy pitches: his mid-90s fastball and his breaker. (His firm changeup remains an afterthought.) Smith's delivery includes plenty of tics that could be limiting his navigational ability: a brief arm stroke; a quick stride; and crossfire action. He could move up from here if scouts who see him this summer believe he's showing improvements with his location and changeup. 

 

1-18-22 - https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2022-mlb-draft-top-100-prospects/ - 

22

Last: 23

Tristan Smith

Boiling Springs HS, Spartanburg, S.C. LHP

Notes:

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 202 | B-T: R-L

Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Age At Draft: 19.1 

Smith dominated at Perfect Game’s National showcase last summer, pitching two perfect innings and striking out every batter he faced. He’s an average sized lefthander—listed at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds—but scouts saw some of the best pure stuff from any southpaw out of his hand last summer. He has a fastball that runs into the mid 90s at best and pairs it with a sharp and biting two-plane breaking ball in the 79-81 mph range. When he’s landing that pitch it has proven to be almost unhittable for prep hitters—both in the zone as a swing-and-miss offering and as a chase pitch that draws bad swings below the zone. It’s mostly been a two-pitch offering for Smith, and for evaluators who only have history with him dating back to last summer, he’s likely to be valued as one of the best pitchers in the class. Scouts with more history have some concern about his control, as the Clemson commit has been erratic in that area previously. 

 

1-15-22 - https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2022-mlb-draft-top-100-prospects/ -

23 Tristan Smith Boiling Springs HS, Spartanburg, S.C .LHP

Ht: 6-1 | Wt: 202 | B-T: R-L

Commit/Drafted: Clemson

Age At Draft: 19.1

Smith dominated at Perfect Game’s National showcase last summer, pitching two perfect innings and striking out every batter he faced. He’s an average sized lefthander—listed at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds—but scouts saw some of the best pure stuff from any southpaw out of his hand last summer. He has a fastball that runs into the mid 90s at best and pairs it with a sharp and biting two-plane breaking ball in the 79-81 mph range. When he’s landing that pitch it has proven to be almost unhittable for prep hitters—both in the zone as a swing-and-miss offering and as a chase pitch that draws bad swings below the zone. It’s mostly been a two-pitch offering for Smith, and for evaluators who only have history with him dating back to last summer, he’s likely to be valued as one of the best pitchers in the class. Scouts with more history have some concern about his control, as the Clemson commit has been erratic in that area previously.

  

12-30-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2021/12/29/2022-mlb-draft-top-300-prospects - 

22. Tristan Smith

Left-Handed Pitcher, Boiling Springs HS 

Smith is one of the top lefties in a loaded 2022 prep class. A strong 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame, Smith fits the profile of a future power pitcher with a rather effortless, crossbody delivery with plenty of deception. Smith’s fastball has been clocked as high as 96 MPH, usually sitting in the 90-94 MPH range. It’s an explosive pitch that comes out of a tough angle with high spin rates. His primary secondary is a sweepy slider that has primarily sat in the high-70’s that he commands well. Much like the fastball, his breaking ball has huge spin rates, reaching as high as 3000 RPM. He rounds out his arsenal with a change-up in the low-80’s that he has good feel for.

 

1-5-21 - https://www.prospectslive.com/prospects-live/2022-mlb-mock-draft - 

Prospect Live Mock Draft 1.0 

22. St. Louis Cardinals

Tristan Smith, LHP, Boiling Springs 

The Cardinals have a knack for sitting back and watching how the draft plays out, seeing who might fall into their lap. Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, might that happen again in 2022? In a year so stacked with high school pitching, should a high-upside prepster slip to 22, which seems almost certain, it may be a match made in heaven. Noah Schultz, Brock Porter, they all make sense here. There’s any number of players that fit, but if the Cardinals go the college pitching route and East Carolina southpaw Carson Whisenhunt is still around, or even Arkansas righty Peyton Pallette, they’re a couple names to keep tabs on here as well. 

 

11-20-21 - Brian Recca - 

37. Tristan Smith 

Position: Left Handed Pitcher 

School: Boiling Springs (SC)

 Commitment: Clemson 

Smith is already up to 95 MPH with the fastball and he’ll typically sit in the low 90s. His fastball is a high spinner and it plays up from the unique angle that he’s able to get through his delivery/arm slot. There’s both running and sinking action and it’s an explosive pitch at times. He may have the type of fastball that can play well both up and down in the strike zone. The breaking ball is one of the top secondary pitches in the 2022 prep class. It’s a sweepy slider with elite power and spin. He can command the pitch well and he is able to tunnel it with his fastball effectively. The spin rates are north of 3,000 RPMs and he’s able to use it as a weapon against both lefties and righties. There’s also an occasional changeup that Smith has some feel for though it’s a bit too firm and lacks deception presently. Smith will need to improve his consistency and command for both his fastball and slider to reach max potential. His changeup is a distant third pitch that will need refinement at the next level. The overall package is already pretty exciting and there’s certainly room for more progression. Smith has some reliever risk but the stuff would project in a late-inning/high leverage role.

  

11-12-21 - Through The Fence Mock 2.0 - 

24. Boston Red Sox: Tristan Smith, LHP, Boiling Springs HS (PA) 

His fastball and breaking ball are what got him into my first round mock draft. To stay, he’s going to have to add more to his repertoire. 

 

11-1-21 - Prospect Live - Top 200 Prospects - 

17. Tristan Smith

Left-Handed Pitcher, Boiling Springs HS 

Smith is one of the top lefties in a loaded 2022 prep class. A strong 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame, Smith fits the profile of a future power pitcher with a rather effortless, crossbody delivery with plenty of deception. Smith’s fastball has been clocked as high as 96 MPH, usually sitting in the 90-94 MPH range. It’s an explosive pitch that comes out of a tough angle with high spin rates. His primary secondary is a sweepy slider that has primarily sat in the high-70’s that he commands well. Much like the fastball, his breaking ball has huge spin rates, reaching as high as 3000 RPM. He rounds out his arsenal with a change-up in the low-80’s that he has good feel for. Smith is committed to Clemson. 

 

10-19-21 - Through The Fence - Mock 1.0 - 

24. Boston Red Sox: Tristan Smith, LHP, Boiling Springs HS (PA) 

His fastball and breaking ball are what got him into my first round mock draft. To stay, he’s going to have to add more to his repertoire. 

 

10-8-21 - Prospects Live - Top Carolinas Prospects - 

LHP Tristan Smith, Boiling Springs HS (SC) 

The 2022 prep pitching class is one of the best in recent memory and Smith finds himself in the upper echelon, and for good reason. Coming in at 6’2”, 200 pounds, the Chesnee, SC native has a strong, athletic build with a crossbody delivery that makes him a nightmare for left-handed hitters in the box. Smith is more of a two-pitch guy currently, as the fastball/curveball combination that Smith possesses is as lethal as they come. The fastball will reach spin rates of

, with notable life at the plate and the pitch explodes out of his hand. He’s primarily in the low-90’s presently, but has touched as high as 95 MPH this summer. The curveball tunnels very well with the fastball and has had spin rates reach as high as 3,000 RPM’s, primarily sitting 79-82 MPH range. He is comfortable pitching backwards when he lacks fastball feel and it’s super tough on left-handed bats. He’ll throw a change-up on occasion, with good sink and improving feel for the pitch. His strike throwing has improved over the past year, though some more consistency will be key for Smith. He’s committed to Clemson.

3 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Mack, what are the odds the Mets grab this kid? I realize the draft is hard to figure, especially this far out.

Mack Ade said...

Tristan is not ranked high enough to pick 1.11 or 1.14 and will be long gone when we pick in the 2nd round

TexasGusCC said...

Don’t underestimate taking this kid at 14 and undersloting him. This is the perfect type way to maximize that pick’s value.