Eric Smith
| IP | 461 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.056 |
| WHIP | 1.638 |
| BB/9 | 4.842 |
| SO/9 | 6.306 |
- Full name Eric Scott Smith
- Born 10/15/1988 in Norwalk, CT
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Rhode Island College
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Drafted in the 2nd round (60th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 (signed for $605,700).
View Draft Report
Smith has made great strides in three years since arriving at Rhode Island as a raw, immature freshman with mechanical issues and an 85-87 mph fastball. He worked mostly in relief in 2007, then showed a glimmer of his potential that summer in the Atlantic Collegiate League, where he ranked as the No. 7 prospect. He broke out this spring, opening eyes with eight shutout innings in a win against Miami in early March, followed by a strong performance against Cal State Fullerton when he allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings. Smith now pitches with an 89-93 mph fastball with power sink that he commands at the knees. He adds and subtracts with his slider, sometimes throwing it in the 84-86 mph range, and the pitch can be average or even plus at times, though it remains a bit inconsistent. He also flashes a solid-average changeup and is improving his feel for the pitch. He drops in a curveball occasionally as a show pitch, particularly for a back-door strike against lefties. Smith is a fierce competitor with a physical 6-foot-3, 213-pound build, and he has the best feel for pitching in the Northeast. He's a safe bet to go in the top three rounds, with a chance to go in the top two.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Diamondbacks made Smith the highest-drafted player in University of Rhode Island history when they took him in the second round of the 2009 draft and signed him for $605,700. He split his first season between Rookie-level Missoula and South Bend, returning to low Class A to open his first full season and earning a pro-motion to Visalia for his last 10 starts. Smith throws three pitches for strikes and has the ability to pitch deep into his starts. He has a good frame and played basketball in high school. His fastball ranges from 88-93 mph with good movement and plus sink. His slider is an average offering, and his changeup has good dive. Smith throws with a three-quarters, short-arm delivery, hides the ball well and works quickly. He pitches to both sides of the plate and keeps the ball down. He needs to use his lower half more in his delivery and continue to improve his command. He has also worked on a curveball, which would give him a fourth legitimate pitch. Smith may return to high Class A or move up to Double-A with a strong spring training. He could be a middle-of-the-rotation starter, and his tendency to pound the bottom of the zone is well suited for hitter-friendly Chase Field. -
When Smith first arrived at Rhode Island, he was a gangly freshman who looked like the basketball player he was in high school. Smith, who played on the same high school travel teams as A.J. Pollock, filled out his frame and added strength. He helped his cause in the 2009 draft with back-to-back strong outings against Miami and Cal State Fullerton, and wound up becoming the highest draft pick in Rams history when Arizona took him in the second round. Signed for $605,700, he capped his pro debut with three solid starts in low Class A. Smith pounds the zone with a 90-92 mph sinker that's difficult to lift. He features three secondary pitches: an 84-86 mph slider that's a plus offering at times, a solid-average changeup and a curveball. He needs to improve his feel with his secondary pitches, though he has shown the ability to add and subtract from his slider. He also must work on commanding his pitches to both sides of the plate and on building up his endurance. Smith, who has a ceiling as a No. 3 starter, will open his first full season in high Class A.
