(Jacob Resnick/MetsMinors.Net)
We are down to the top 3, which is sad, because we all enjoyed working on this list for you readers, and at this time, we are sure you can guess is at the remainder of the list. However, we’ll get some new stuff to talk about soon, including the international free agency and the June draft as well as our projections for all four minor league rosters. For now, enjoy our reports, especially this one on Florida State League Most Valuable Player, Dominic Smith.
#3 1B Dominic Smith
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 185 B/T: L/L Age: 6/15/1995 (20)
2015 Level: Hi-A St. Lucie Mets
Stats: 118 G, 497 PA, 456 AB, 33 2B, 6 HR, 79 RBI, 35/75 BB/K, .305/.354/.417
Touted as the best pure bat of the 2013 Draft Class, the Mets made their 11th overall selection for First Baseman Dominic Smith, making the third top selection in three years with a high school bat. It’s usually a peculiar case to select a high school first baseman for your top pick, especially at #13, but his bat is as pure as it comes. In his senior year at Serra High School, Dominic Smith hit .493/.635/1.014 with 6 doubles, and 7 home runs in 27 games. Essentially video game statistics if you will.
After taking a 2.6 million dollar bonus, Dominic Smith proceeded to the Rookie Ball Gulf Coast League team and hit .287/.384/.407 in 48 games with 9 doubles and 3 homers. The Mets then gave him a small 3-game cup of coffee in Kingsport going 4 for 6 with 4 doubles and not striking out once. I personally thought they might send him to Brooklyn, but the Mets’ front office was much more aggressive than I thought, sending him to full season A-ball Savannah Sand Gnats.
While Dominic Smith didn’t master Savannah’s huge Historic Grayson Stadium, he didn’t do too bad either. He did not hit for much power though, understandably, as the park is the worst hitting stadium in the minor leagues. In fact, his on-base percentage was higher than his slugging percentage (.344 OBP/.338 SLG), and he had only one home run in total which he hit on August 8th. While it felt defeating for a first base prospect, it seemed as though he was learning to hit to each part of the field. Nevertheless, the Mets believed his .271/.344/.338 was good enough to send him to High-A St. Lucie for 2015.
At High-A, he proved that his previous year was an aberration, winning most valuable player. In his first 19 games, he hit .157/.213/.171 before flipping a switch, hitting 19 doubles and two home runs in his next 27 games. Then pacing the league in doubles for the rest of the season with 33 while hitting .305/.354/.417 for the year, and launching a career-high 6 home runs as one of the youngest players in a league usually dominated by pitchers.
Dominic Smith is a pure hitter, first and foremost, as he has modeled his swing after an excellent hitter in Robinson Cano, however, he has not hit for Cano-type power as of yet. In batting practice, Dominic Smith hits shots each part of the field, especially the other way but he has not learned how to completely employ loft into his swing for in-game situations. However, he has been able to hit a high amount of doubles, and for young players, that is a good indicator of future power. As for defense, Smith is excellent at first base, and usually is a vacuum with great instincts.
The only knocks on Dominic Smith are his attitude and his inability to stay fit. Smith is described as a guy who seems like he lacks effort by some scouts, with a rather laid-back attitude and worry that he doesn’t work hard. However, I’d write off the attitude concerns for his Californian roots, which can misconstrued for lazy. As for staying fit, he has an issue gaining weight. Every year, he has started off fit as a fiddle in the Barwis Camp, but has gained weight as the season progressed. He reported that he was eating too much junk food, so we hope he starts eating more healthy, and stays fit.
In his next assignment Binghamton, he may find himself hitting for more power as the park is small with a 330 foot distance at each pole. Prepare yourself fans, for an interesting year.
Prior Top 80 Prospects:
#4 Gavin Cecchini, #5 Brandon Nimmo, #6 Wuilmer Becerra, #7 Desmond Lindsay,#8 Luis Carpio #9 Marcos Molina, #10 Robert Gsellman, #11 Logan Verrett, #12 Seth Lugo, #13 Jhoan Urena, #14 Gabriel Ynoa, #15 Ali Sanchez, #16 Luis Guillorme, #17 Chris Flexen, #18 Max Wotell, #19 Milton Ramos, #20 Akeel Morris, 25-21, 30-26 35-31, 40-36, 45-41, 50-46, 60-51, 70-61, 80-71
Spot on as usual with the breakdown of the prospect Teddy. It will be a very interesting year for Dom, I look forward to attending some BP sessions when they visit the area. Not always a good indicator, but I want to see if the loft is there. From what I have seen on video and in ST is the text book swing that will make hard contact. When a player can show it in BP, you at least know it is in him.
I have not always been a very ardent supporter, though that has been more for a philosophical disagreement with the pick than his actual play. I know the comps range from Loney to Olerud, and myself, I typically comp him to Casey. After digging into him further in preparation for this year I am liking him to Kirby Puckett, who hit exactly 4 HR in his first 1300 PA in MLB.
I like the Puckett one too. When I see Dom’s swing, I see a major leaguer whether or not he ever hits 20 homeruns in a season or not. Honestly the weight thing has become more of an issue for me after talking to some people that know Smith. He had what one called an “eating issue”. I’m sure though being in big league camp this year though that is probably something they addressed with him.
In an interview with him last year, he talked about a few things he learned from time with Wright, the work, the year round approach, the consistent time to his craft. It appears to have registered a bit and we will see what things literally “look like” after 3 months of bus and motel life. On another note, I don’t think he is 6′ tall that he is listed as, which doesn’t help from a television or video perspective.