One of the most talked about Mets pitching prospects who was invited to big league camp this spring, was left-hander Kevin Smith.
A seventh round selection for the Mets in the 2018 first-year player draft, the 6-foot-5 Smith impressed Mets scouts with his savviness on the mound, great command of his pitches, and an uncanny effectiveness against left-handed batters.
He won’t blow hitters away with his 90-92 mph two and four seamers, but his low 3/4 arm slot along with an improving change and a deceptive late-moving slider makes him an effective weapon either as a starter or out of the bullpen.
The Mets used Smith in both roles during his first taste of professional ball with Brooklyn Cyclones in 2018. To say Smith dominated the league would be an understatement, finishing the short-season with a 0.76 ERA and 0.761 WHIP in 12 appearances including three starts.
It was a small sample size to be sure, but the Mets saw enough in his 10.7 K/9, 4.67 K/BB and 2.3 BB/9 that the decision was made to groom him exclusively as a starter entering the 2019 season. It was a decision that would prove to be a very good one for the New York Mets.
Smith, 22, began the season with Advanced-A St. Lucie bypassing the Columbia Fireflies altogether and quickly establishing himself as a focused competitor with a veteran mound presence.
He maintained the 10.7 K/9 he showed off in Brooklyn and after a couple of rough early starts, he embarked on a dominating 14 start stretch that saw him post a 2.72 ERA and 1.156 WHIP while punching his ticket to Binghamton.
To put it more succinctly, in a matter of 20 pro starts Smith went from the MLB draft to Double-A, only one more stop away from the big leagues.
Smith continued his success at Binghamton and at first glance his 3.45 ERA and 1.277 WHIP may not jump out at you. But if you throw away his final start of his first full pro season, you’re looking at a 1.98 ERA and a .187 opposing batting average with just one home run allowed over six starts.
“It says a lot about the individual that he comes into the organization as not a first round pick, or something like that, and he puts himself on the map,” assistant general manager Allard Baird told Baseball America.
Kevin Smith did a lot more than just put himself on the map, he was named the Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year and vaulted himself onto every top ten Mets prospects list.
“That is a credit to him and the people who have worked with him. It always starts with the player more than anything else.”
“He’s got composure and he trusts his stuff. As long as he continues that growth, he is going to end up pitching in the big leagues.”
They say timing is everything, and with the unfortunate loss of Noah Syndergaard to Tommy John surgery, Smith jumps to the top of the Mets minor league depth chart if and when this season ever lifts off. Keep your eye on this one.
