The Diamondbacks averted arbitration with first baseman/outfielder Pavin Smith by agreeing to a one-year, $1.5MM deal, experiences Jon Heyman of the New York Publish. He’d been projected for a $1.6MM wage by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
Smith, 29 subsequent month, was chosen with the No. 7 choose by Arizona again in 2017. He’s not lived as much as that lofty billing however did take pleasure in a breakout displaying within the massive leagues this previous season, mashing at a .270/.348/.547 clip. That stout manufacturing got here in a reasonably small pattern of 158 journeys to the plate, however it was supported by career-best batted ball metrics; Smith averaged a hearty 90.2 mph off the bat and put 44% off his batted balls in play at 95 mph or extra.
Smith additionally drew a free cross in a superb 11.4% of his plate appearances and fanned in a lower-than-average 19.4% of his journeys to the plate. As along with his high quality of contact, that plate self-discipline holds up with a glance underneath the hood. Solely seven % of hitters in baseball (min. 150 plate appearances) chased pitches off the plate at a decrease charge than Smith final season (20.1%). Solely 14% of gamers in that very same set made contact at a greater charge than Smith’s 90.5% when swinging at pitches inside the strike zone. Put extra merely, Smith confirmed eager information of the strike zone and really, very not often missed when attacking a ball over the plate. That sort of self-discipline and bat-to-ball prowess is tough to fluke your approach into over even a pattern as restricted as his 2024 displaying.
This marks Smith’s first offseason of arbitration eligibility and his first time incomes noticeably north of the league minimal. He’s out of minor league choices, so Smith is a veritable lock to make the Opening Day roster, barring harm.
Smith received’t be entrusted with common time at first base even after the Snakes misplaced Christian Walker to free company, as Arizona rapidly pivoted and purchased Josh Naylor to man the place. Nonetheless, he ought to log ample time at designated hitter now that Joc Pederson has additionally left the membership for a two-year deal in Texas, and he’d presumably be the first various at first base ought to Naylor incur an harm or just require a breather. Smith can even rotate into both left or proper discipline within the occasion of an harm or break day for Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and/or Jake McCarthy. Smith is a profession .226/.289/.310 hitter in opposition to lefties and thus isn’t prone to see a lot motion in opposition to southpaws, however he’s a .249/.333/.427 hitter in opposition to righties — together with an enormous .282/.356/.564 displaying this previous season. He’s controllable by the 2027 season.
