AB | 296 |
---|---|
AVG | .284 |
OBP | .402 |
SLG | .47 |
HR | 9 |
- Full name Aidan Smith
- Born 07/23/2004 in Tulsa, OK
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Lovejoy HS, Lucas, Texas
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Drafted in the 4th round (124th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2023 (signed for $1,200,000).
View Draft Report
School: Lovejoy HS, Lucas, Texas Source: HS
Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 19
Smith is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder with a few plus tools and some feel to hit that goes with them. He is a plus runner who plays center field and should be able to stick there, but a plus arm also gives him some ability to move naturally to right if that’s necessary at the next level. He has solid bat speed and a decent approach at the plate with strength and the physical projection that should give him a chance to be an average power hitter. The adjustability of his swing at the next level will ultimately determine what sort of offensive profile he settles into. At the 2023 MLB Draft Combine in June Smith hit a few balls at 104 mph in batting practice and hit one over 400 feet. Smith is a Mississippi State commit whose tools should get him plenty of attention from the MLB scouting community. He’ll be 19 just after draft day and a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Smith largely stayed off the summer showcase circuit and wasn’t well known, but Mariners area scout Patrick O’Grady identified him early and kept highlighting Smith to his superiors. Smith made that look prescient by batting .491 in a huge senior season at Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) High and followed with an impressive showing at the draft combine. The Mariners drafted him in the fourth round and signed him for an above-slot $1.2 million bonus to forgo a Mississippi State commitment.
Scouting Report: Smith is a physical athlete whose baseball skills are rapidly progressing. He has a projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and drives balls 400-plus feet in batting practice with plus raw power. He hits balls hard when he connects and has room to keep getting stronger and add more power. Smith is still a raw hitter with a top-heavy, rotational swing and poor breaking ball recognition. He has good hand-eye coordination but needs time to improve his swing and pitch recognition. He has the potential to be a fringe-average hitter with 20-home run power if everything clicks. Smith is much more polished on defense. He’s a plus runner underway who runs pristine routes and is a borderline plus-plus defender in center field. He has above-average arm strength that flashes higher.
The Future: Smith’s defense in center field will give him time to develop as a hitter. He has a chance to be an everyday center fielder if everything clicks.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 65 | Arm: 55
Draft Prospects
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School: Lovejoy HS, Lucas, Texas Source: HS
Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State
Age At Draft: 19
Smith is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder with a few plus tools and some feel to hit that goes with them. He is a plus runner who plays center field and should be able to stick there, but a plus arm also gives him some ability to move naturally to right if that’s necessary at the next level. He has solid bat speed and a decent approach at the plate with strength and the physical projection that should give him a chance to be an average power hitter. The adjustability of his swing at the next level will ultimately determine what sort of offensive profile he settles into. At the 2023 MLB Draft Combine in June Smith hit a few balls at 104 mph in batting practice and hit one over 400 feet. Smith is a Mississippi State commit whose tools should get him plenty of attention from the MLB scouting community. He’ll be 19 just after draft day and a draft-eligible sophomore if he makes it to campus.