Russell Smith

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #14 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Smith was a 38th-round pick of the Cubs coming out of high school as a projectable 6-foot-9 pitcher with issues syncing up his delivery. His time at Texas Christian cleared those problems up. Smith stepped right into Texas Christian’s rotation as a freshman, missed the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery, but once again impressed in the rotation in 2020 and 2021, going 7-3, 3.83 as a redshirt junior.
  
  Scouting Report: It’s hard to think of much better fits than giving the Brewers a crafty, unconventional pitcher with plus command of his fastball and changeup. Smith’s plus changeup is something he’s able to consistently keep down and away from righthanded hitters. He also does a good job spotting his average 90-94 mph fastball. If the Brewers can help him improve his fringe-average slider and/or help him find a little more arm speed (which could improve his slider on its own), he could go from being a useful multi-inning reliever/back-of-the rotation starter to a fast-moving mid-rotation starter.
  
  The Future: The Brewers were very cautious about not overtaxing college pitchers who threw full seasons. Smith has yet to make his pro debut, but he could jump straight to High-A Wisconsin in 2022.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #108 prospect in 2021 draft
  A 38th-round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2017, Russell Smith is not what you might think. Watch a massive (6-foot-9, 235 pounds) long-levered lefty and you would expect big stuff and little idea of where it’s going. With such a massive frame it would understandably take quite a while for Smith to grow into his delivery. But that’s not him. Smith doesn’t have big stuff—he can touch 94-95 mph but he will generally pitch at 90-92. But he has a very smooth, repeatable delivery with solid body control. And Smith’s fastball plays well up in the strike zone with good vertical movement. It sets up his above-average 82-85 mph changeup which he commands extremely well. Smith throws his changeup almost always down and away to righthanded hitters and he rarely misses his spot. It’s a quality creator of ground balls, but it’s good enough to get some swings and misses as well. His average slider is somewhat sweepy, but he will bury it with two strikes. Smith missed the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he’s otherwise been reasonably durable. Smith seems more likely to be a relatively low-ceiling draft pick, but one who also has a very good chance to be a big leaguer. Whether that role is as a big lefty middle reliever or a back-of-the-rotation starter, his ability to consistently throw three pitches for strikes and attack four quadrants of the strike zone make him a valuable pro prospect.
• Ranked #455 prospect in 2017 draft
  Smith is a big man with big pitcher problems. Like many young skyscrapers (he's 6-foot-9), Smith doesn't always manage to sync up his arm with his body and he has trouble repeating his delivery from pitch to pitch. But when he's on his 88-90 mph fastball can dominate hitters, as he showed as early as his sophomore year at Midlothian when he sandwiched a pair of no-hitters around a one-hitter. Smith's curveball and changeup aren't as polished as his fastball, but he oozes with potential. He's committed to Texas Christian.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Smith was a 38th-round pick of the Cubs coming out of high school as a projectable 6-foot-9 pitcher with issues syncing up his delivery. His time at Texas Christian cleared those problems up. Smith stepped right into Texas Christian&#39s rotation as a freshman, missed the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery, but once again impressed in the rotation in 2020 and 2021, going 7-3, 3.83 as a redshirt junior.
  
  Scouting Report: It&#39s hard to think of much better fits than giving the Brewers a crafty, unconventional pitcher with plus command of his fastball and changeup. Smith&#39s plus changeup is something he&#39s able to consistently keep down and away from righthanded hitters. He also does a good job spotting his average 90-94 mph fastball. If the Brewers can help him improve his fringe-average slider and/or help him find a little more arm speed (which could improve his slider on its own), he could go from being a useful multi-inning reliever/back-of-the rotation starter to a fast-moving mid-rotation starter.
  
  The Future: The Brewers were very cautious about not overtaxing college pitchers who threw full seasons. Smith has yet to make his pro debut, but he could jump straight to High-A Wisconsin in 2022.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Smith was a 38th-round pick of the Cubs coming out of high school as a projectable 6-foot-9 pitcher with issues syncing up his delivery. His time at Texas Christian cleared those problems up. Smith stepped right into Texas Christian’s rotation as a freshman, missed the 2019 season because of Tommy John surgery, but once again impressed in the rotation in 2020 and 2021, going 7-3, 3.83 as a redshirt junior.
  
  Scouting Report: It’s hard to think of much better fits than giving the Brewers a crafty, unconventional pitcher with plus command of his fastball and changeup. Smith’s plus changeup is something he’s able to consistently keep down and away from righthanded hitters. He also does a good job spotting his average 90-94 mph fastball. If the Brewers can help him improve his fringe-average slider and/or help him find a little more arm speed (which could improve his slider on its own), he could go from being a useful multi-inning reliever/back-of-the rotation starter to a fast-moving mid-rotation starter.
  
  The Future: The Brewers were very cautious about not overtaxing college pitchers who threw full seasons. Smith has yet to make his pro debut, but he could jump straight to High-A Wisconsin in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  A 38th-round pick of the Cubs out of high school in 2017, Russell Smith is not what you might think. Watch a massive (6-foot-9, 235 pounds) long-levered lefty and you would expect big stuff and little idea of where it's going. With such a massive frame it would understandably take quite a while for Smith to grow into his delivery. But that's not him. Smith doesn't have big stuff—he can touch 94-95 mph but he will generally pitch at 90-92. But he has a very smooth, repeatable delivery with solid body control. And Smith's fastball plays well up in the strike zone with good vertical movement. It sets up his above-average 82-85 mph changeup which he commands extremely well. Smith throws his changeup almost always down and away to righthanded hitters and he rarely misses his spot. It's a quality creator of ground balls, but it's good enough to get some swings and misses as well. His average slider is somewhat sweepy, but he will bury it with two strikes. Smith missed the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he's otherwise been reasonably durable. Smith seems more likely to be a relatively low-ceiling draft pick, but one who also has a very good chance to be a big leaguer. Whether that role is as a big lefty middle reliever or a back-of-the-rotation starter, his ability to consistently throw three pitches for strikes and attack four quadrants of the strike zone make him a valuable pro prospect.