2022 Draft - Mets Pick - 5.149 - SS - D'Andre Smith

 

D’Andre Smith

 2B     5-8     170     USC

 

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

 223 D'Andre Smith 2B USC Diamond Bar, CA 

Smith really set the world on fire at USC during his true freshman season hitting .341 in just 14 games. His rate stats and batted ball numbers suggest a pretty complete bat with a keen eye for the strikezone and the ability to really impact the baseball. Smith didn't chase pitches outside of the zone and really avoided striking out. Creating more loft will be important for Smith moving forward as he's more of slasher than a banger for the time being. Smith is an average runner with an average arm. He's best suited at second base moving forward. 

 

11-16-21 - Prospect Live - Second Basemen - 

D’ANDRE SMITH – SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 

Smith will also be a draft-eligible true sophomore in 2022. A spark-plug for the Trojans in 2021, Smith stepped foot on campus and hit right away. As a true freshman, Smith slashed .341/.471/.366 with five stolen bases in just 51 plate appearances. He was injured in February and missed most of the first half of the season. After the spring, Smith then went out to the Appalachian League for some summer ball where he posted a .294/.383/.412 line in 60 plate appearances. That said, strikeouts were a bit more of a crutch this summer than they were for the Trojans.

 

11-6-21 - Prospects Live - 

Smith has fairly average tools across the board, but he’s got lightning quick hands and a reliable, compact release that should help his longevity at second base. Smith hits the ball harder than most of his second base peers, averaging north of 91 mph in 2021, though he’ll have to learn to lift the ball a bit more should he hope to be an impact hitter at the next level. As it stands, he’s more of a slasher at the plate. If Smith posts a K-rate even remotely close to what he did in 2021 (7.8 percent) and hits the ball with a little more authority into the gaps and over the fence, he could certainly hear his name called on day two of the 2022 draft. 

 

7-13-21 - Fangraphs: Top 2022 Draft Prospects 

# 108

 

D'Andre Smith SS USC