- Full name Jackson Robert Smeltz
- Born 09/14/1998 in Lafayette, IN
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Purdue
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Drafted in the 10th round (300th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2022 (signed for $25,000).
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Smeltz has overcome a lot to make it to where he is currently. He dealt with plenty of issues in high school including injuries on the football field and Tommy John surgery, but a concussion he suffered also revealed a brain tumor that doctors removed. Now at Purdue, Smeltz has improved each year during his three-year career with the program and this spring posted a 2.83 ERA over 10 starts and 57.1 innings, while striking out 79 batters (34.5 K%) and walking 22 (9.6 BB%). Smeltz suffered an injury in April that ended his season but while on the mound the 6-foot-3, 210-pound lefty showed a 92-93 mph fastball that got up to 96 at best. The fastball gets plenty of riding life and misses bats at the top of the zone and above it. His secondaries are more average or fringy, with slurvy breaking ball around 80 mph and a mid-80s changeup that is currently a distant third offering. Smeltz has a functional delivery that includes some stiffness throughout, a high leg kick, a bit of tilt and a long, stabbing arm action in the back that could impact the quality of his breaking ball. If he finished the season healthy, Smeltz was looking like a potential top-10 round pick, though his injury status now could complicate his evaluation.
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
Career Transactions
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LHP Jackson Smeltz assigned to ACL Padres from Lake Elsinore Storm.
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LHP Jackson Smeltz assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
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LHP Jackson Smeltz roster status changed by Lake Elsinore Storm.
