Will Smith Stats & Scouting Report

IP	41.1
ERA	6.53
WHIP	1.45
BB/9	3.27
SO/9	6.31

Full name William Michael Smith
Born 07/10/1989 in Newnan, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 255 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Gulf Coast CC
Debut 05/23/2012
Drafted in the 7th round (229th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2008 (signed for $150,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

When the Royals traded Alberto Callaspo to the Angels in July 2010, they received a pair of finesse starters in Sean O'Sullivan and Smith. The latter is a big-bodied lefthander who's not particularly flashy and has three average pitches with average command. Smith's two-seam fastball sits at 88-90 mph, a tick up from what he showed in 2010. He tweaked his two-seam grip midway through last season, adding velocity while not losing any of movement. His four-seamer operates at 91-92 mph and touches 94. His best secondary pitches are his big-breaking curveball and a changeup that's not quite as consistent. He added a slider midway through 2011 to give him a better chance against righthanders. Smith lacks a true strikeout pitch and he lands on a stiff front leg, which affects his control at times. His crossfire delivery helps create some deception, however, and he's equally successful against lefties and righties. Smith projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter if he continues to develop, and he should be at least a long reliever in the big leagues. He'll get a shot at making Kansas City's rotation in spring training but most likely will be sent to Triple-A.
Though he may be most famous for unearthing Howie Kendrick, area scout Tom Kotchman's track record with pitchers in Florida is more impressive. He scouted and signed a quartet of righthanders selected in the past two major league Rule 5 drafts: Bobby Cassevah, David Herndon, Bobby Mosebach and Darren O'Day. Enter Smith, a tall, physical lefthander who commands three pitches. He followed an outstanding pro debut in Rookie ball with a solid 2009 season in low Class A. He showed excellent control of both the strike zone and the running game, limiting basestealers to just six steals in 14 attempts. Smith pitches aggressively for someone without a knockout pitch, working his fastball to both sides of the plate at 88-90 mph and touching 92. His average curveball draws more strength from a range of velocities--from 72-80 mph--than from pure break. He adds and subtracts from his sinking fastball, too. The Angels lack pitchers with refined changeups, and Smith is no exception. Pitchability lefties often carve up low-level batters, so he'll have to keep proving himself. A hamstring pull and a lower back injury limited him to 19 starts last year, but if he comes to camp in shape he should advance to high Class A. His ceiling is as a No. 4 starter.
Angels scout Tom Kotchman, who doubles as their Orem manager, has a knack for finding talent at small colleges and junior colleges. His most notable discoveries are Howie Kendrick (St. John's River, Fla., CC) and Scot Shields (Lincoln Memorial, Tenn.), and his most recent is Smith. He signed for $150,000 out of Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC, the same school where Kotchman grabbed David Herndon two years earlier. Smith showed tremendous feel for pitching at Orem in his pro debut. He threw all of his pitches for strikes--his 76-6 KBB ratio was the best in the Pioneer League--worked both sides of the plate and changed speeds effectively. He also used his big frame to deliver his pitches on a steep downward plane. Smith works off a four-seam fastball that ranges from 87-93 mph. His curveball is a plus pitch and he can add and subtract velocity from it, reaching the low 80s. If he can get a better feel for a changeup, it could become an average pitch for him. Smith is more advanced than most 20-year-olds, which could tempt the Angels to challenge him in high Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Smith is a projectable lefthander who already has an outstanding feel for his craft. He commands all of his pitches for strikes, working both sides of the plate and changing speeds effectively with good downward plane. His 76-6 K-BB ratio was the best in the league. Smith works off a four-seam fastball that ranges from 87-93 mph. His curveball is a plus pitch at times, and he can add and subtract velocity from it, reaching as high as the low 80s. He also throws a changeup that has improved to become at least an average pitch.

Career Transactions

LHP Will Smith elected free agency.
Kansas City Royals activated LHP Will Smith.
Kansas City Royals placed LHP Will Smith on the 15-day injured list. Low back spasms.
Texas Rangers activated LHP Will Smith.
Texas Rangers signed free agent LHP Will Smith.