On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the
upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending
with the pick for 1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -
#47 Kolten Smith
RHP Georgia
20/years old
6' 3" 209
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 65 |
Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
The University of Georgia's top pitching prospect since
Emerson Hancock went No. 6 overall in 2020, Smith has gotten better throughout
his time in Athens. He was one of the Southeastern Conference's best pitchers
last April and May as a sophomore and ranked 13th in NCAA Division I with 13.6
strikeouts per nine innings, though he tired and got roughed up in the
postseason. After alternating between starting and following an opener last
spring, he should be more consistent with a full-time rotation role in 2025.
Smith owns one of the best cutters in the Draft, as it ranges
from 84-89 mph and generates impressive rates of chases (49 percent last year)
and swings and misses (43 percent). He can turn it into a sweeper with more
movement and less velocity, and he also spins a low-80s curveball that's a
weapon. His fastball sits at 92-94 mph and touches 96, missing bats as well,
though it gets pounded when he doesn't command it well.
Smith rounds out his repertoire with a fading mid-80s
changeup that's his only pitch that he doesn't land for strikes consistently.
He significantly improved his control from 20 –23 to '24 and his next step will
be to refine his fastball location. If that happens, he could develop in
2021 National Showcase
Kolten Smith is a 2022 RHP/1B with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from
Ocala, FL who attends Forest. Slender athletic build with plenty of room to get
stronger. Best pitch was a mid-70's curveball from a 3/4's arm slot with good
arm speed, showed good tightness and a consistent release on the pitch.
Fastball sat in the mid-80's with some two-seam/four-seam action, worked the
corners and down in the zone with his two-seamer mostly, firm change up may
have just been a two-seamer. Showed consistent low 90's velocity in 2020 that
hasn't been there this summer. Still very projectable with a solid feel for
pitching. Excellent student, verbal commitment to Alabama. to a No. 2 starter.
1-22-25 –
Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03
27. Kolten Smith – RHP
HT/WT: 6’3/209 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Georgia | Age: 21.6
A projectable and athletic specimen, Smith has enjoyed a
breakout campaign under new head coach Wes Johnson. Smith more than doubled his
strikeout rate in 2024, jumping to a 33.9% clip in 69.2 innings of work for the
Bulldogs.
Smith sequences his arsenal nicely, as both breaking balls in
his arsenal saw usage over 20% of the time in 2024. Smith’s firm mid-80s slider
flashes plus with gnarly bite and two-plane shape, displaying more depth than
sweep.
His low-80s curveball has little hump out of the hand and
drops to the dirt from a high release, catching hitters out front, plus he’ll
manipulate the shape and turn it into a sweeper. Teams will really covet his
feel to spin as July inches closer.
His heater has gotten into the mid-90s more consistently,
displaying two distinct shapes in a four-seam and two-seam. He’ll flash a firm
change-up, too. He’s still a bit raw overall, though his arm speed stands out
and he’s commanded the ball much better than in 2023. Smith’s pitchability and
starters build give him clearance over some other arms in this class, too.
12-23-24 - Top 50 college baseball prospects for 2025
MLB draft, per D1Baseball
44 Kolten Smith RHP
Georgia
https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=491227 –
2021 National Showcase
Kolten Smith is a 2022 RHP/1B with a 6-3 195 lb. frame from
Ocala, FL who attends Forest. Slender athletic build with plenty of room to get
stronger. Best pitch was a mid-70's curveball from a 3/4's arm slot with good
arm speed, showed good tightness and a consistent release on the pitch.
Fastball sat in the mid-80's with some two-seam/four-seam action, worked the
corners and down in the zone with his two-seamer mostly, firm change up may
have just been a two-seamer. Showed consistent low 90's velocity in 2020 that
hasn't been there this summer. Still very projectable with a solid feel for
pitching. Excellent student, verbal commitment to Alabama.
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