Paul DePodesta: Fired up to select Dominic Smith! Chance to hit for average and power while playing great defense. Special human being, too!
Keith Law: Smith is one of the best pure hitters in the high school class, showing a smooth left-handed swing with power and a plus glove at first base. When he keeps his weight back, his swing is outstanding, with great balance through contact and good hip rotation to generate power from his legs.
High School coach Wilmer Aaron: He always comes through when you need him. Smith boasts poise, terrific bat speed and a power arm. He does things college kids can’t do. God has blessed him with tremendous gifts.
Dominic Smith: This is a great honor and opportunity. I can’t wait to get out there.It’s an incredible team. David Wright is a Hall of Fame-potential player and Matt Harvey is a great young guy. I can’t wait to put on my Mets uniform and get out there and play.
Brooklyn Cyclones: The Mets selected Dominic Smith with the 11th overall selection tonight. The first baseman hit .493 this season and a whopping .551 as a junior. Hopefully we’ll get to see him at MCU Park at some point this season.
Baseball Prospectus: A plus hit/plus power bat that could fit comfortably in the middle of a first division lineup. He excels at barreling up balls and producing loud contact. Has a good feel for the strikezone and shows the ability to both turn around good velocity and drive stuff on the outer-half to the left-center gap.
Brandon Nimmo: Congrats to Dominic Smith on being selected by the Mets, hope he becomes part of the team!
Aaron Fitt, Baseball America: Every SoCal scout I know loves Dominic Smith — really special makeup, special swing, plus defender. Has legit bat speed & pop. Mets fans will love him.
Darin Gorski: My internet gave out but my twitter feed blew up with the news. Congrats to Dominic Smith! Welcome to the Mets!!!
Paul DePodesta: We’re thrilled that we were able to select Dominic tonight. He’s a guy we have followed since last summer. Our area scout has known him since he 12-years-old. We think we have a very good all-around player, a plus hitter with plus power.
Tommy Tanous: We felt going back to last spring, into the summer, that this was one of the most advanced high school hitters that you’ll find. The fact that he bats left-handed is even nicer. You don’t find a swing like this every year.
Harold Reynolds: This may be the best left-handed bat from Los Angeles since Darryl Strawberry. I like this pick for the Mets.
Darryl Strawberry: He’s 17 years old, he’s got a lot to learn about the game. From all the reports that I hear about him, he’s a pretty good player. That’s good because you wouldn’t be here being taken in the first round if he wasn’t good. Just hopefully he can handle the opportunity of playing in New York because he has to deal with a lot here.
Jim Bowden: Love the Mets pick of Dominick Smith 1B. He has a chance to develop into an impact middle of the order bat and ++ defender. His bat reminds me of David Ortiz and his defense reminds me of Adrian Gonzalez.
John Sickels: One of the best pure hitters of the class, Smith just squares everything up. He just drops the head of the bat on it and it goes 330’. He understands the strike zone and shouldn’t strike out as much as a typical power hitter does due to his sound approach and great hand-eye coordination.
Peter Gammons: One GM says Dominic Smith was the best interview he conducted since Darin Erstad in 1994. Highest praise.
Dominic Smith: I try to model my fielding after Mark Teixeira. He’s a great fielder and he can hit as well. I like watching Cano swing from the left side of the plate. He makes the game look easy. And Carlos Gonzalez, he’s a gold glove outfielder. He makes a ton of plays and has a really good arm and he can hit as well. I just try to model my overall game after those three players.
