Paul asks…
What does it say about Dominic Smith that he’d pull a bush league move like going into a home run trot on a drive to the right field wall? This guy isn’t even a home run hitter. Yes, I know it was just a spring training game, but it’s the principle of the matter. He reminded me too much of another prospect who loved showboating but ended up being a bust, Jordany Valdespin.
Joe D. replies…
I think it’s a little bit too early to start using the word bust in a Dominic Smith question, I mean come on he’s only 20 years old. Kids will be kids, but what’s important to note was two things. One, that manager Terry Collins addressed it immediately, and two, Smith’s reaction afterward.
Here’s the play courtesy of Timothy Finengan (@TimFinn521).
Dom Smith just barely missed a home run off a McHugh FB, hit off the wall but the home run trot held him to a single pic.twitter.com/XZV7wIefA1
— Timothy Finnegan (@TimFinn521) March 5, 2016
Collins confronted Smith as soon as he got back to the dugout.
“He learned a lesson,” Collins said after the game. “What I said wasn’t necessarily suitable to print. No, he just said he messed up and it would never happen again. And I said, ‘I know it won’t, and make sure it doesn’t.’ That’s all.”
Smith spoke to reporters after the game and said he would never make that mistake again and I believe him.
“It’s a learning experience. Collins definitely did say something. I’m in big league camp. I’m learning a lot. There’s no room in baseball for that at all. I’m going to take that and learn from it, and it definitely won’t happen again.”
Now about him not being a home run hitter, so not true. He may not have the dingers to show for it right now, but as he continues to develop, that incredible gap power will start translating into more home runs. And let’s not forget he’s spent the last two years playing in the most notorious home ballparks for left-handed power hitters like him.
Smith is coming off a exceptional season in which he was named the Florida State League Most Valuable Player after hitting .305/.354/.417 with a league leading 33 doubles and 79 RBI. Keith Law, who we recently interviewed, says “Smith is one of the best pure hitters in the minors.”
I predict a breakthrough season in the power department for Smith, who will strut his stuff at Double-A Binghamton this year. I’m pretty sure he will silence all the critics this season and that our No. 2 ranked prospect will draw rave reviews once they see how hard he can crush a baseball. Combine that with his great eye at the plate and his plus-plus-defense and we’re talking about a very special player. So please don’t mention Dominic Smith and Jordany Valdespin in the same sentence again. Ever.
