Kevin Smith

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Smith spent his first full season in pro ball posting better numbers than he ever did in college at Maryland. He cratered the following season in 2019 and struck out too much at the alternate training site in 2020 as he battled his swing mechanics. But Smith made a huge turnaround at Triple-A Buffalo in 2021, finishing eighth in on-base percentage and fourth in slugging percentage in Triple-A East. He received his first big league callup in August and appeared in 18 games for the Blue Jays.
  
  Scouting Report: A student of the game, Smith unsuccessfully tinkered with his swing throughout his struggles but finally found a swing and setup that worked for him in 2021. He moved his hands higher to get his barrel more vertical in his setup, which helped him stop dipping his back shoulder and dropping his barrel underneath pitches, which previously led to pitchers beating him with elevated fastballs. The result was a quicker, more efficient swing which, along with a more selective approach, led to more quality at-bats. With his swing adjustments, Smith now projects to be a fringe-average hitter with solid-average raw power and could hit 20-plus home runs over a full season. Smith is an average runner and can handle shortstop, but he has also played third base and can handle second base as well. He projects to be at least an average defender at each spot with above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Smith has been enigmatic, but if his swing and approach adjustments carry over, his power and defensive skill set could allow him to stick around as a utility player.
  
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #26 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: After the 2018 season, Smith was trending up. He spent his first full season raking through two Class A levels, with a swing adjustment that clicked to go with impressive power from a shortstop. However, in 2019, everything seemed to go wrong.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Smith got off to a slow start in Double-A New Hampshire, and he tried to selfcorrect and tinker with his swing, but those adjustments never led to better results. After the season, Smith went to the Arizona Fall League, where he led the league with 38 strikeouts in just 67 plate appearances. Smith isn't that far removed from a successful 2018 campaign, and he still shows quick bat speed and above-average raw power. Smith is a student of the game and made different tweaks to his swing last year, but he has to find a way to get his swing back to where it was in 2018, and to stay more disciplined in the strike zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: There's a split camp among scouts on his fielding, with some thinking he's a position change candidate, while others like his defense at shortstop, where he has good hands and an above-average arm with a quick release.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: A three-year starter at Maryland, Smith debuted with the Blue Jays in 2017 after signing that summer as a fourth-round pick. Following the season, Smith called the Blue Jays to ask when was the earliest possible date he could report to their complex in Dunedin, Fla. He worked on his swing and broke through with a strong 2018 season.
  
  Scouting Report: A student of the game, Smith spent the offseason working to shorten his swing path and increase the amount of time his barrel spends in the hitting zone. His body awareness helped him make that adjustment and be more direct to the ball, and he cut his strikeout rate from 25 percent at Rookie-level Bluefield in 2017 to 21 percent split between two Class A levels in 2018. Smith still projects as a power-over-hit offensive profile, with quick bat speed and plus raw power to drive balls out to all fields. Smith isn't a flashy shortstop, but he is a steady, reliable defender with average defense for the position. He has sure hands and an above-average, accurate arm with a quick release.
  
  The Future: Smith raised his stock in 2018, albeit as a college player dominating Class A competition. Double-A New Hampshire will give Smith a chance to prove himself against upper-level pitchers.
• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #26 prospect in 2018
  Small and skinny in high school, Smith went to Maryland and seized the starting shortstop job as a freshman. He established himself as one of the top defensive shortstops in the nation when the Blue Jays signed him for $405,100. Smith projects as a true shortstop with good range and body control and soft hands. His arm strength is above-average and he gets rid of the ball quickly with on-target throws. Smith is a fundamentally sound defender with a good internal clock, and while his pure speed is fringy, he gets quick jumps off the bat. Smith isn't just a light-hitting defender, as he flashes quick bat speed and solid-average raw power. That power comes with a high dose of swing-and-miss, however, with an uphill swing path that helps him lift the ball but also leaves him with holes pitchers can exploit. Smith's defense should carry him, with a chance to be an everyday shortstop if he can keep his strikeout rate in check.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #79 prospect in 2017 draft
  Coming out of high school, Smith was small and skinny. Scouts liked his glove actions and arm strength, but he needed to go to college to develop. Smith found instant success at Maryland, earning the starting shortstop job as a freshman and quickly developing a reputation for highlight-reel defensive plays. With the draft nearing, Smith's defense remains his defining characteristic. He has plus hands and body control and flashes plus arm strength, though some evaluators note that his arm has been inconsistent this spring. Offensively, Smith shows above-average bat speed and raw power. He batted .301 as a rising sophomore in the Cape Cod League last summer, giving evaluators hope that his pure batting had improved. Smith struggled early on this spring, casting further doubt on his ability to make contact and dropping him to the lower third of the Terrapins' order. His power remains ahead of his hitting ability. In a college shortstop class devoid of players likely to stick at the position, Smith should still be a high draft pick, in spite of his shaky offensive track record.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Midwest League #15 prospect in 2018
  In college, Smith was a low-average hitter who did drive the ball enough to be a useful shortstop. But he's fixed and improved his swing since, as what was once a long and loopy swing is now shorter and more conducive to hitting. Smith was simply too advanced for the Midwest League and the Blue Jays promoted him to the Florida State League in late May. Although not seen as a flashy player, Smith's profile features a lot to like. He has demonstrated a much-improved hit tool, and he has average power as well. Smith has a blue collar feel to the way he plays and features the intangibles that scouts love to see. Scouts see Smith as more of a well-rounded player with few big weaknesses, although he also lacks plus tools. Smith projects as an average defender at shortstop who can be an above-average second or third baseman.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #11 prospect in 2018
  A subpar junior season at Maryland dropped Smith to the fourth round in 2017, and the Blue Jays were more than willing to pounce. So far, they've been rewarded handsomely with a breakout season from Smith in his first full campaign. Smith tore up low Class A Lansing for a month and a half before earning a promotion to Dunedin, where he continued to hit, albeit at nowhere near the pace he produced in the Midwest League. His 25 home runs and 93 RBIs placed him second in the organization in both categories. Evaluators who like Smith see a player who can stick at shortstop with a bat-first profile in the mold of Paul DeJong. He's never going to be the flashiest player on the field, but his work ethic and all-around skills will help him produce impressive seasons. His bat can handle a slide to second base as well. He'll get his first test at the upper levels in 2019, when he graduates to Double-A New Hampshire and continues honing his all-around game.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #91 prospect in 2019

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Smith spent his first full season in pro ball posting better numbers than he ever did in college at Maryland. He cratered the following season in 2019 and struck out too much at the alternate training site in 2020 as he battled his swing mechanics. But Smith made a huge turnaround at Triple-A Buffalo in 2021, finishing eighth in on-base percentage and fourth in slugging percentage in Triple-A East. He received his first big league callup in August and appeared in 18 games for the Blue Jays.
  
  Scouting Report: A student of the game, Smith unsuccessfully tinkered with his swing throughout his struggles but finally found a swing and setup that worked for him in 2021. He moved his hands higher to get his barrel more vertical in his setup, which helped him stop dipping his back shoulder and dropping his barrel underneath pitches, which previously led to pitchers beating him with elevated fastballs. The result was a quicker, more efficient swing which, along with a more selective approach, led to more quality at-bats. With his swing adjustments, Smith now projects to be a fringe-average hitter with solid-average raw power and could hit 20-plus home runs over a full season. Smith is an average runner and can handle shortstop, but he has also played third base and can handle second base as well. He projects to be at least an average defender at each spot with above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: Smith has been enigmatic, but if his swing and approach adjustments carry over, his power and defensive skill set could allow him to stick around as a utility player.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Smith has been an enigmatic prospect, following an outstanding 2018 at two Class A levels with a floundering 2019 that saw his strikeout rate skyrocket as his swing looked out of sync all year. Now in Triple-A, Smith is hitting well again, cutting down on his swing and miss while also hitting for power.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After the 2018 season, Smith was trending up. He spent his first full season raking through two Class A levels, with a swing adjustment that clicked to go with impressive power from a shortstop. However, in 2019, everything seemed to go wrong.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Smith got off to a slow start in Double-A New Hampshire, and he tried to selfcorrect and tinker with his swing, but those adjustments never led to better results. After the season, Smith went to the Arizona Fall League, where he led the league with 38 strikeouts in just 67 plate appearances. Smith isn’t that far removed from a successful 2018 campaign, and he still shows quick bat speed and above-average raw power. Smith is a student of the game and made different tweaks to his swing last year, but he has to find a way to get his swing back to where it was in 2018, and to stay more disciplined in the strike zone. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: Very High
  
  THE FUTURE: There’s a split camp among scouts on his fielding, with some thinking he’s a position change candidate, while others like his defense at shortstop, where he has good hands and an above-average arm with a quick release.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After the 2018 season, Smith was trending up. He spent his first full season raking through two Class A levels, with a swing adjustment that clicked to go with impressive power from a shortstop. However, in 2019, everything seemed to go wrong.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Smith got off to a slow start in Double-A New Hampshire, and he tried to selfcorrect and tinker with his swing, but those adjustments never led to better results. After the season, Smith went to the Arizona Fall League, where he led the league with 38 strikeouts in just 67 plate appearances. Smith isn't that far removed from a successful 2018 campaign, and he still shows quick bat speed and above-average raw power. Smith is a student of the game and made different tweaks to his swing last year, but he has to find a way to get his swing back to where it was in 2018, and to stay more disciplined in the strike zone.
  
  THE FUTURE: There's a split camp among scouts on his fielding, with some thinking he's a position change candidate, while others like his defense at shortstop, where he has good hands and an above-average arm with a quick release.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  In the offseason, Smith called the Blue Jays and asked them when was the earliest possible date he could report to their complex in Dunedin, Fla. He worked with Blue Jays hitting coaches to shorten his swing path and keep his barrel in the hitting zone longer, and those adjustments have fueled one of the biggest breakthroughs in the minors. He’s not a flashy defender but he’s a steady, fundamentally sound fielder with good internal clock.