Will Smith: Poster Boy of Dodger Development
Did the Dodgers have any idea Will Smith would be the hitter he is when they drafted him? Not in the least! When the Los Angeles Dodgers took Will Smith in the 1st round of the 2016 draft (32nd overall out of the University of Louisville), the internal scouting report looked…
Did the Dodgers have any idea Will Smith would be the hitter he is when they drafted him? Not in the least! When the Los Angeles Dodgers took Will Smith in the 1st round of the 2016 draft (32nd overall out of the University of Louisville), the internal scouting report looked something like this:
- High baseball IQ catcher (pitch-calling, leadership, defense)
- Solid bat, not flashy
- Good plate discipline, gap power
- A player with a high floor but not necessarily a superstar ceiling
In draft-speak:
Will was a “Safe everyday catcher,” Not a “middle-of-the-order monster.”
What They Actually Got
Will Smith turned into one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, with elite on-base skills and a power combination. He became a guy who consistently posts .850–.900 OPS seasons… which happens to be rare air for catchers. That’s not normal. Catchers usually come with one of two settings: (1) Defense-first, light bat; or (2) Bat-first, questionable defense. Smith somehow turned into both. I have had Dodger fans say, “Yeah, this was what I thought he would be when they drafted him.” Well, I never heard you say it at the time, and if you did, you would have been branded as delusional. Even the Dodgers didn’t expect Will Smith to become the best catcher in baseball… with all due respect to Cal Raleigh.
This is a Testimony to Dodger Development
The Dodgers did like him, they drafted him, and they deserve credit for his development. Even if they didn’t predict he would become this monster, they weren’t guessing about his plate discipline, which was already elite in college. They saw that he controlled the strike zone like a veteran. The Dodgers’ scouting under Andrew Friedman heavily values hitters who don’t chase and make consistent quality contact. Will Smith had that. That’s the kind of foundation that can quietly turn into something dangerous in the Dodgers’ professional development.
After the draft, the Dodgers’ player development machine kicked in:
- Swing adjustments resulting in more lift, more power;
- Selective aggression by hunting pitches to drive;
- Physical strength gains; and
- Continued elite pitch recognition.
Basically, the Dodgers took a raw, precision instrument… and turned it into a weapon.
Reality Check
If any team knew he’d become a perennial All-Star-level hitter and one of the best offensive catchers of his era, he wouldn’t have gone 32nd. He’d have gone top 10… maybe top 5! The Dodgers didn’t draft Will Smith, thinking, “This guy will anchor our lineup. They drafted him, thinking, “This guy won’t go bust.” Yet, they somehow got, “This guy might be the most reliable offensive catcher in baseball.”
That’s not scouting luck… That’s the Dodgers’ scouting, plus the Dodgers’ development, hitting a perfect note! This is what the Dodgers do. Currently, the Dodgers have a number of players who “could” reach levels of development like Will Smith. “COULD” not “WILL.” These include:
- Josue DePaula
- Mike Sirota
- James Tibbs III
- Zach Root
- Emil Morales
It’s harder for me to project Eduardo Quintero, Zyhir Hope, and others, but I am high (hopeful) on the five prospects I listed. They all have “that” which I cannot define… I just know it when I see it.
Last Night’s Game
The Dodgers are superb at playing “the long game.” Taking pitches, working the counts until they get a pitch, or a pitcher they can exploit! They will seldom be out of a game this year. Enjoy the ride! Now, we hold our collective “breath” as Sasaki goes to the mound against Cleveland tomorrow.
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Discussion (77)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Happy birthday Jack. 45 days!!!! The Dodgers will have the division won by the time you get home. Hopefully the weather has turned for you because the weather in the Canaries has been shocking. Nice part of the world though. Holding my breath for Roki tonight. Not that hopeful….
Spending the day in Las Palmas, Canary Islands on a 45-day cruise 76th birthday through Europe. Internet is sporadic. Caught up with the posts today and enjoyed them immensely and am ecstatic that Jeff has joined the site with his insight. So excited that LA is cranking out the wins and the pitching and hitting is carrying over from last year. Tibbs, Erdhard, Kim and are doing well and will be waiting in the wings. Can’t get much better than this. at this rate they should clinch the West around August. Go Dodgers!
As it stands right now, he has 12 years with ATL and 5 with the Dodgers. If he plays 4 more years, that will give him 9 with LA. It’s not a slam dunk that he goes in with an LA Cap. The National Baseball Hall of Fame makes the final call. Players can state a preference, but the Hall treats that like input, not a veto button. Think of it like a front office hearing a player’s contract request: respected, considered… but not decisive if it conflicts with the bigger picture. I asked AI (3 different ones) and they all said: “Right now, unless Freeman turns his Dodgers run into something legendary, even if he wanted LA… Cooperstown would probably hand him an Atlanta cap anyway.” That can change in 4 years… or not!
He goes in as a Dodger. Two rings and more to come and two iconic home runs in the World Series as a Dodger plus he wants to play 3 or 4 more years as a Dodger.He and his wife love LA.
It used to be solely up to the player. Now the hall works with the player in the decision.
It’s not Freddie’s choice. The cap on a Hall of Fame plaque is chosen by the National Baseball Hall of Fame—not the player. They look at: Where the player had their most iconic years Career value split Historical identity / narrative Championships help, but they don’t override everything If he were to go in now, it would be as a Brave. If he plays 4 more years as a Dodger, that may do it.
Poll question raised by Mark, Will Freddie choose to go into the hall of fame as a Dodger or a brave? Vote now compadres
I think Freddie will play until he is 40 and enter the HOF as a Dodger with 3,000 hits and 450 HRs.
I always have favorites. Snider, Lefebre, Loney, Pederson, Smith, Outman, Freeland.
Anybody on this site who talks shit about Freddie Freeman is dead to me. Ignore.
I want to not have to work for a living. Who cares what he wants?
I stumbled across this today. I had almost forgotten…
Thirteen years ago, I had to decide if I wanted to be a Dodgers Commentator or build a $100 Million Dollar Company… I made the right decision. Besides, I have a face for Radio. However, I am still here… just not doing the videos (thankfully).
Right ! Player.
You are not being graded. C- 😉
When Kike and Edman come back, I can see Call and Espinal being jettisoned. I can also see JT3 being in a platoon in LF. Sorry Teo….
I just hope our starters can keep up with the bullpen and Ohtani can eventually catch up to Freeland’s home run total.
Sorry 4 typos
Someone will replace Teo first in my opinion whether it’s after this season or next.
His bat plays. Spit on pitches out of tge zone. Hit strikes hard. Either a future Dodger LF or a prine trade chip.
Haha hit two homers do what you like on D
Freddie wants to play 4 more years. I see him in LF!
Isn’t he getting reps at 1B? With Freeman’s contract ending, why isn’t he more likely to end up there?
He had an error today but it was kind of bs. He made a sliding catch. He had control of it. However, in his excitement when he hopped up to run back to the dugout he dropped the ball out of his glove.
I really like that kid. Missed a cycle last night by just a homer. 2 doubles a triple and a single. Rortvedt cleared waivers and was outrighted by the Mets to AAA. Brebbia signed to a minor league deal by the Twins. Rockies, Giants and D-Backs all start the season 0-3. Padres are 1-2. Padres play SF next, Detroit is playing the D-Backs, Rockies get the Blue Jays and LA plays Cleveland. Brewers lead the majors with 29 runs scored, Angels lead AL with 25.
His CF approach is impressive. I’ve seen him crush more pitches to LF/CF than RF. Dude just hits the ball hard and has a good eye. I haven’t seen enough of his defense to judge but the bat plays. He’s a 25-30 HR OF next year if given a starting job.