Marcus Smith

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #20 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Smith broke 10 school records during a decorated career at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill High School and became the school's first player drafted in 45 years when the A's selected him in the third round. He signed for a below-slot $400,000 to forgo a Michigan commitment and hit .361 with a .909 OPS in the Rookie-level Arizona League in an impressive pro debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Smith is extraordinarily athletic and has more strength and physicality in his compact, 5-foot-11 frame than most high school draftees. He has quick, strong hands at the plate and has worked to improve the use of his lower half to drive the ball. Smith hits the ball impressively hard for his age and posted an average exit velocity of 88 mph in his pro debut—the same as the major league average in 2019—but he mostly hits the ball on the ground and is still learning to elevate to drive balls into the gaps. His plus speed and athleticism are assets on the basepaths and in center field, although he will need to learn the finer points of basestealing at the professional level.
  
  THE FUTURE: Smith is an impressive athlete with a highly touted defensive and showed he could handle the bat in his pro debut. He should see short-season Vermont in 2020 and has a chance to play his way up to full-season ball.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #212 prospect in 2019 draft
  Smith is not a prospect who is going to entice every scout or every team. But certain teams that love plus defenders with plus speed in center field, like the Royals, will find a lot to like in Smith. The 5-foot-10 lefthanded hitter slashes the ball instead of looking to lift it, and the concern is that in pro ball he will not drive the ball regularly enough to let his 70-grade speed fully play. He shows solid barrel skills, however, and he is extremely athletic. Smith is committed to Michigan.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Smith made the decision to forego a commitment Michigan to begin his professional career as the A’s third-round pick in 2019 with a price tag of $400,000.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Extremely athletic, Smith has advanced strength and physicality in his compact frame when compared to typical high school draftees. He has impressive tools at the plate, featuring quick, strong hands. He worked to widen his base, improve the use of his lower half as well as the balance and timing in his swing. He had a hard time centering the baseball in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he generated over 60 percent ground balls. Smith’s contact rate was encouraging despite the crudeness at the plate because of an average exit velocity of 88 mph. His speed and athleticism are assets on the basepaths and center field, though he will need to learn how to steal bases at the professional level.
  
  THE FUTURE: An impressive athlete with a highly touted defensive resume, Smith will be given every chance to play in Vermont in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Smith broke 10 school records during a decorated career at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill High School and became the school's first player drafted in 45 years when the A's selected him in the third round. He signed for a below-slot $400,000 to forgo a Michigan commitment and hit .361 with a .909 OPS in the Rookie-level Arizona League in an impressive pro debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Smith is extraordinarily athletic and has more strength and physicality in his compact, 5-foot-11 frame than most high school draftees. He has quick, strong hands at the plate and has worked to improve the use of his lower half to drive the ball. Smith hits the ball impressively hard for his age and posted an average exit velocity of 88 mph in his pro debut—the same as the major league average in 2019—but he mostly hits the ball on the ground and is still learning to elevate to drive balls into the gaps. His plus speed and athleticism are assets on the basepaths and in center field, although he will need to learn the finer points of basestealing at the professional level.
  
  THE FUTURE: Smith is an impressive athlete with a highly touted defensive and showed he could handle the bat in his pro debut. He should see short-season Vermont in 2020 and has a chance to play his way up to full-season ball.