MACK – Let’s Revisit - OF - John Smith III

 

MACK – Let’s Revisit - OF - John Smith III

John Smith III (full name: John Ceaser Smith III) is a right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder in the New York Mets organization.

milb.com

Basic info

• Born: November 19, 2003 (age 22), in Brandon, Florida; hometown Apollo Beach, Florida.
• Height/weight: 6'1", 200 lbs.
• Drafted: 2026 MLB Draft, 19th round (overall pick 570) by the Mets out of the University of Central Florida (UCF).
• Signed for a $50,000 bonus.
  spotrac.com

College careerHe took a multi-school path before starring at UCF as a senior in 2026:

• High school: Lennard High School; ranked as the #13 outfielder in Florida by Perfect Game. Batted .397/.638/.603.
• Pensacola State (junior college): Strong numbers, including a .382/.452/.688 slash with 12 HR as a sophomore in 2024.
• South Alabama (2025 junior year): .314/.412/.466 in 49 games.
• UCF (2026 senior year): Second Team All-Big 12. In 49 games (47 starts, all in LF): .322/.383/.574 with 12 HR, 49 RBI (team lead), 13 doubles, 65 hits, and a long on-base streak. He showed power and contact, with some standout multi-homer games.
  ucfknights.com

Scouts noted raw power, bat speed, and above-average running ability. He also played in the Cape Cod League (Falmouth Commodores) in 2025.Professional career (so far)Signed July 20, 2026, and moved quickly through the system:

• Started in the Florida Complex League (FCL Mets).
• Promoted to Single-A St. Lucie Mets (late July). Had a strong debut with multiple homers (including his first pro homer) and showed power (exit velocities over 108 mph on some HRs).
• Promoted to High-A Brooklyn Cyclones on August 18, 2026. He got off to a hot start there (e.g., multi-hit games, reaching base frequently).
• As of late August 2026, overall minor-league numbers were around .305/.373/.915 OPS with 3 HR in limited action 
  milb.com

He’s a toolsy college senior/outfielder with power potential and speed who has advanced quickly after being a late-round pick. He’s not yet a high-profile top prospect in the system but has impressed with early pro production and rapid promotions. 

His nickname is “John John”