MMO Exclusive: LHP, Kevin Smith

Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Kevin Smith has been in the New York Mets’ organization since June of 2018 when the team selected him in the seventh round of the MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia.

The left-hander started his minor league career with the Brooklyn Cyclones where he impressed many over a span of 12 appearances (three starts). In that time, he recorded a 0.76 ERA and 0.761 WHIP to go along with 10.6 K/9 as compared to 2.3 BB/9.

That performance prompted the organization to have the southpaw skip low-A Columbia and start the 2019 season with high-A St. Lucie.

Smith had no problem adjusting to that level either as he registered a 3.05 ERA and 1.249 WHIP with 10.7 K/9 as compared to 2.5 BB/9 exclusively pitching as a starter.

After 17 starts, the Mets decided to promote Smith to Double-A Binghamton where he would finish the season. In six starts, Smith had a 3.45 ERA and 1.249 WHIP.

Due to his quick ascension to Double-A and his success at basically every level he’s pitched at, Smith was named Organization Pitcher of the Year. The southpaw is currently ranked the 11th best prospect in the Mets’ farm system according to MLB Pipeline.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Smith recently about his time in college and with the Mets’ organization.

Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

MMO: What do you think your time at the University of Georgia did to prepare you for the pros?

Smith: I spent three years at Georgia under coach Stricklin and it helped me a lot in growing as a person and maturing as a pitcher. I spent a lot of time in the weight room and I had two pitching coaches there just to get ready. After my junior year, I was ready to make my transition to pro baseball.

MMO: You actually have been better in the pros so far than you were in college, what do you think has led to your success early in your career?

Smith: I think just keeping the same mindset through each game, outing, or inning. Starting in my college career, I was more up and down. When I came over to pro ball, I started to focus more on the consistency and the routine. Keeping that same consistency and going through the same recovery to get ready for that next start or outing.

MMO: Was there something you added to your routine that helped you develop that consistency?

Smith: My big thing this year was just finding a routine and getting comfortable with it cause, before this year, I never really had one and it’s something I found this year. It just helped me make sure I was doing something every single day to get ready for my next start and that was the biggest thing I found this year that really helped me out.

MMO: How does the routine work for you? What do you do on game day to prepare?

Smith: On game day it’s always the same I read the scouting reports on the hitters after I get the lineup. I guess the routine is more of those days in between and getting your body ready for the next start and then once you figure out the lineup and who you’re facing, you start really getting into the tendencies, the scouting reports, and how to pitch to each hitter and that’s something that really helped me out a lot this year.

MMO: How much, if at all, do you incorporate analytics in preparation for a start?

Smith: I would say more so that I look at analytics of how I pitch and what pitches work best for me and how I can use my fastball, slider, changeup efficiently to get hitters out. Then, I look at the hitters to see how their strengths and weaknesses align with their strengths and weaknesses so it gives you the best chance to perform.

MMO: In college, you pitched out of the bullpen and as a starter. Do you have a preference between the two roles and did you have to adjust for that type of role?

Smith: I actually think I was more used to it in college cause I didn’t really have a preference, but I did it for three years in both roles so I was used to that transition. I really don’t have a preference, it’s really whatever this organization wants me to do in the future. I am totally okay with it cause I’ve done both before. I like them both so that really helps me out just having that experience.

MMO: You won the Organization Pitcher of the Year Award this past season, how much of an honor was that for you?

Smith: That was a very big honor. That was one of my goals from the beginning of this year and I didn’t really pay attention to it much in the beginning, but I took it day by day and I’m very honored to get it.

MMO: Since joining the Mets’ organization, who are the people who have helped you the most with regard to your development?

Smith: I got to work with, Jeremy Accardo, Ricky Bones, and Mike Cather, who I was with for most of the year, helped me out with mechanical and mental things.

MMO: Accardo ended up taking the job with the Mets by midseason, is there anything you can elaborate on in terms of how he is as a coach?

Smith: He’s a great coach. I was with him more in Spring Training because, obviously, he got the job halfway through the year as the pitching coordinator. But, he’s just a good guy and you can go to him for whatever you want and he’ll always have answers for you. He’s a very great guy and great pitching coach.

MMO: What is one thing you have improved on since joining the organization and what’s something you are looking to improve on before making it to the majors?

Smith: I’d say that one thing I really improved on this year was my changeup and finding a consistent grip and just throwing it consistently each outing cause I had a changeup in the past, but it never really had a consistent delivery, so that’s what really helped me out a lot this year.

In the future, it’s really just tightening up those three pitches in my fastball, slider, and changeup, just perfecting those pitches to get the best results out of myself.

Photo by Ernest Dove, MMN

MMO: Despite not throwing as hard as some other pitchers do in today’s game, you have still managed to rack up high strikeout totals. What do you think has allowed you to do that?

Smith: I have a pretty above-average spin rate on my fastball and slider. I like to throw my fastball up in the zone to get swings-and-misses and my slider helps with that and allows me to get some good swings-and-misses too. That was working really well this year and once I figured out my changeup, that was another plus pitch I added to get even more swings-and-misses.

MMO: On a given day when you’re struggling with control, is there a certain you feel like you can always turn to?

Smith: It’s really just whatever is working that day. I mean, I usually like to think that most of the pitches I throw I can control pretty well and it’s really whatever is on that day. You know what’s one and what’s not, but it just depends on the day.

MMO: Earlier this season, you got to throw live BP to Robinson Cano at Citi Field. What was that experience like for you?

Smith: That was a lot of fun and really cool. Obviously, getting to pitch on the Citi Field mound and getting a taste of it was very cool, and especially to throw to him.

MMO: Who were some of the players you looked up to as a kid and what team were you a fan of?

Smith: Since I’m from Atlanta, I grew up a big Braves fan watching Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux. That was my team growing up, but obviously not anymore. I love watching lefties throw like Glavine. I got to meet him a couple of times growing up in summer baseball. That’s who I looked up to, but I just love watching a bunch of different lefty pitchers.

MMO: What is your message to Mets fans going into the 2020 season?

Smith: I think they’re going to have a great season in 2020 and for me personally, I’m a hardworking human being and I’m looking forward to working my way up to Citi Field to win ballgames for the Mets.

MMO: Just going to end it off with a few light-hearted questions. What’s your favorite TV Show?