A bright spot and now a possible Rookie of the Year. That is what Pavin Smith has been for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. With their 2021 season already a wash, he is finally showing the organization and the fans why they took him with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft.
Pavin Smith in the 2017 Draft and in the Minors
Smith had been mentioned as the best contact hitter of the 2017 draft with above-average power and good hand-eye coordination. Called a true middle-of-the-order threat who certainly had everything you look for in a hitter, it was thought he would get to the big leagues quickly with that contact and power.
He went through a slow start in the minors with hitless streaks and season-opening slow starts. Though he showed good plate discipline, for someone with that kind of power and swing, he hit only 23 home runs in 1074 at-bats. Smith went from being ranked #63 as a prospect to completely off the Top 100 list. He even fell off the Diamondbacks Top 30 prospects for 2020. Everyone began to wonder if he was a bust and if he would ever be a full-time MLB player for the Diamondbacks.
However, he made adjustments in his overall hitting after a challenging first two years. Smith worked with the hitting coaches on getting his right foot down earlier and getting the ball in the air. They also worked with him on his pitch selection. He adjusted his swing and improved his launch angle. Those adjustments translated to a career-high 12 home runs and 29 doubles in 2019.
Pavin Smith Receives His Call-up
It seems Smith just needed some extra time to get to the big league club. When the 2020 Minor League Baseball season shutdown due to COVID-19, he was able to work out at the team’s alternate site in July 2020. He continued to work on his hitting as well as his defensive skills, hoping to be a call-up in September. He presumed he would see most of his playing time in the outfield.
On September 10, 2020, the team made the call. Smith made his major league debut on September 12 against the Seattle Mariners and got his first hit off former Diamondback Yoshihisa Hirano. His first major league home run came on September 25 against AJ Ramos and the Colorado Rockies. He finished the season batting .270 with one home run in 12 games.
Spring Training 2021
In spring training Smith was one of seven players competing for the final three roster spots as a bench player. Playing both corner outfield spots as well as first base, his versatility worked in his favor. He made the Opening Day lineup this year, but not at first base. He started in right field due to an injury to Kole Calhoun.
On April 16, center fielder Tim Locastro left a game against the Washington Nationals after dislocating his finger trying to steal second base. This put manager Torey Lovullo in a quandary. Ketel Marte was already on the IL, leaving Locastro as the lone center fielder on the roster. Though the team had acquired center fielder Nick Heath from the Kansas City Royals the day before, he had not yet arrived to his new team and was not available for the game.
A bright spot for the Diamondbacks with Smith was a move to center field. It came as a surprise, since he had never played the position. He certainly did not humiliate himself or the team with his play out there. Smith showed his versatility when he chased down a well-hit ball for an out. Since then, he has played in 15 games and finished nine games in center field.
NL Rookie Leader
As of this writing, Pavin Smith — a possible Rookie of the Year candidate — is the NL rookie leader in batting average at .288. In his 229 at-bats, he has 66 hits, including 22 extra-base hits and 21 RBI, and has scored 35 runs. He is second in rookie home runs, with five, and has the second-highest OPS (.804). Furthermore, he had a 13-game hitting streak during which he hit over .400.
Team Season has Faded
A bright spot for Arizona has definitely been Pavin Smith. This team’s season has faded quickly, with their 5-24 record and 13 consecutive losses in May sending them on a tailspin. With little else for the fans to look forward to, the emergence of Smith — both defensively and offensively — have given them something to watch. Fans can continue following his progression for the remainder of the season while he, hopefully, stays in contention for NL Rookie of the Year.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
Players Mentioned:
Pavin Smith, Yoshihisa Hirano, AJ Ramos, Kole Calhoun, Tim Locastro, Torey Lovullo, Ketel Marte, Nick Heath,
