Drafted in the 2nd round (42nd overall) by the New York Yankees in 2004 (signed for $800,000).
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Smith was the cornerstone of John Savage's first recruiting class at UC Irvine when the school reinstated baseball in 2002. He led the upstart program to a national ranking this year by going 8-4, 2.19 with nine-inning averages of 2.1 walks and 9.0 strikeouts. He has first-round stuff with a four-pitch assortment that includes a sharp, late 86-88 mph slider. He also has a 90-92 mph tailing fastball and curveball, but his changeup is straight and soft. At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he has a good downhill plane on his pitches. He performed like a first-rounder this season, with a knack for making big pitches in key situations. His delivery is a little rough, as the ball doesn't come easy out of his hand and he leaves too many pitches up in the zone. But he gives hitters a deceptive look with a mid-stride hesitation in his delivery. Smith projects as a sandwich pick or second-rounder. He also is one of the many players in this year's draft being advised by Scott Boras.
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Taken by the Diamondbacks in the 21st round of the 2001 draft coming out of high school, he became the highest-drafted player in UC Irvine history three years later and has the inside track to becoming the first Anteater to reach the major leagues since Brady Anderson. When the program was resuscitated for the 2002 season, Smith was one of the keys to the first recruiting class of then-coach John Savage. He took most of last summer before signing for $800,000 as the top pick in the second round. Smith has good size at 6-foot-4, and he uses it to keep his power repertoire down in the strike zone. In the spring, he worked consistently at 90-92 mph with his fastball. He was at his best when he threw his slider at 86-88 mph, and at times it has sharp, late bite. Smith also throws a curveball and changeup, though the change is in need of work. His delivery, which includes a mid-stride hesitation, could use refinement. When he's off, he gets mechanical and leaves his stuff up in the zone. He figures to join fellow 2004 draft picks Philip Hughes, Jeff Marquez, Christian Garcia, Jason Jones and Jesse Hoover on a prospect-laden low Class A staff.
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