Hagen Smith

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #167 prospect in 2021 draft
  Smith missed the 2020 high school season and the summer showcases as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He made an emphatic return to the mound this spring to throw seven no-hitters in his first 10 high school starts. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthander finished the year with stats that read like typos: 11-0 with just seven hits and 21 walks in 73 innings. He struck out 169 batters. Despite the numbers, evaluators aren’t sure if Smith will be picked high enough to convince him to spurn his Arkansas commitment. As effective as Smith has been, it’s been with stuff that requires a little further projection to be effective in pro ball. Smith has touched 93-96 mph at his best this year, but he’s also had outings when he’s sat 88-91 mph. He mainly throws a bigger-breaking curveball for now, but he’s been working on a slider that may eventually supplant the curve. It’s likely a better fit for his low-three quarters arm slot. He flashes an above-average change but he hasn’t needed to throw it much. Smith is young for the class—he won’t turn 18 until August. If Smith is drafted, he will top current Braves LHP A.J. Minter as the highest draft pick ever out of Bullard (Texas) High. Minter was a 37th-round pick out of high school although he opted to go to college.