Gardena, Calif., product Dominic Smith is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Smith projects as a future first baseman, but has the athleticism to play in the outfield and can hit upwards of 92 miles per hour as a left-handed pitcher.
MLB Draft 2013 scouting report round-up: 1B Dominic Smith
USC-commit Dominic Smith is one of the top high-school bats in the draft.
Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE
Smith flashes a plus-glove at first base, but placing him there won’t take advantage of what is a very strong arm. Still, evaluators believe the combination of Smith’s body type and relative lack of speed could compromise any future he might have as an outfielder.
Either way, Smith’s main strength is his bat, which has a chance to be good enough to profile anywhere on the diamond. His one real weakness -- getting out on his front foot -- might be directly related to a long stride, which can be tweaked with the type of coaching he’d get as a pro.
Smith is committed to Southern California, but he isn’t considered a signability problem.
Vital statistics
| Dominic Smith | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | High School / College | Consensus Rank |
| 1B | Junipero Serra HS (Calif.) | 1st round |
| B/T | Birthdate (age) | Height / Weight |
| L/L | June 15, 1995 (18) | 6'0 / 195 pounds |
What they’re saying
- Matt Garrioch, Minor League Ball: “[Smith] is not as gritty as Kirk Gibson may like them, but he sure as hell is a smart player, works hard and can hit and that will play in Arizona.”
- Keith Law, ESPN: “[Smith] has a very smooth left-handed swing and when he does square the ball up, he generates surprising raw power ... he can’t play another position, but he does have the benefit of being able to play a very good first base.”
- Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com: “[Smith] is a very solid defender at first, though it’s the fact that some see him as the best pure high school hitter in the class that will get him drafted in the early stages.”
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