Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Will Smith Born: 03/28/1995 (Age: 21)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 5' 10"	Weight: 195
	Primary Position: C
	Secondary Position: 3B

Athlete; solid frame, lean muscle at present, room to grow into his chest and shoulders; spring in lower half, quick feet, ingredients of a durable backstop, athletic enough to handle some positional versatility

Evaluator	Wilson Karaman
Report Date	09/02/2016
Dates Seen	8/24-25, 8/31/16
Affiliate	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A, Dodgers)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2019	Moderate	55	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	45	Wide stance, tight hands, quiet, vertical bat; deep load, leg kick, aggressive stride; mild hand drift, back elbow gets high, some steepness into the zone; quick stroke, linear path, mild leverage when looking to pull; average bat speed, some vulnerability to velocity; very patient approach, thinks with pitchers, can jump sequencing, shows ability to track and stay back; stands close to the plate, hangs over some, will take regular hit-by-pitches; fringe-average hit tool will play up with on-base ability
Power	40	Average strength and bat speed, linear game swing limits utility, should have occasional over-the-fence pop to pull side, swing geared to shoot the gaps
Baserunning/Speed	50	Above-average present speed, surprising burst out of the box, efficient runner; will steal the occasional base, present over-aggressiveness in attempting to take extra bases; projection to settle into an average tool as he matures and handles rigors of everyday catching
Glove	55	Quick feet, top-shelf mobility and athleticism behind the plate; shows a strong glove hand, projection for quality framing; raw receiving low pitches, tendency to stab across and down with the backhand, doesn't get his body down on balls in the dirt, undeveloped blocking technique, physical tools to develop average or better blocking; catching fundamentals at third, gets wide and low, surrounds balls, stiff upper-half, showed decisiveness in reads, quick reactions
Arm	60	Lightning-fast transfer, fluid, balanced pops, max-effort between innings, 1.83 low, 1.92 in-game; repeats throwing mechanics, generates velocity with short arm path, accurate throws on the bag; above-average arm strength plays up as a plus tool with transfer & accuracy

Drafted in the first round (32nd overall) in 2016, Smith shows the ingredients of a solid big-league catcher. There are some raw elements to his receiving, but he possesses the physicality to develop into an above-average defender who controls the running game behind the plate. His athleticism is rare for a catcher, to where he boasts above-average present speed and offers the potential for some positional versatility that can lengthen a bench. He shows some aptitude for contact with a line drive-oriented stroke, and his advanced command of the zone, tracking ability, and willingness to work hit-by-pitches will drive an above-average on-base profile. If the bat maxes out he can develop into an above-average regular, with average regular a realistic outcome.