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.
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (77)
Disagree, not disagreeable
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!
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….
Yesterday was Tibbs Day
I’d take 4 IP 2 ER <3 walks as a successful outing.
That pretty much ended with Wade Boggs. He wanted to go into the Hall as a Ray, but he only played two years in Tampa. He got his 3000th hit as a Ray. His cap is a Red Sox cap on his plaque.
That pretty much ended with Wade Boggs. He wanted to go into the Hall as a Ray, but he only played two years in Tampa. He got his 3000th hit as a Ray. His cap is a Red Sox cap on his plaque.
Buehler making his Padres debut tonight. Rockies might start season 0-6. They are playing the Blue Jays in Toronto. Happy Birthday Jack, my 78th is coming up in June. Renewed my driver’s license online last week and got my new one in the mail Saturday. Good until 2031. Guardians starting a rookie leftie tonight, so looks like Rojas will get the start again even though Freeland is a switch-hitter. Espinal probably back in the lineup too even though Muncy hit lefties pretty decently in spring. Had two homers off of lefties. Probably means Smith starts over Rushing too.
Watford,how are the gas prices in the UK these days?
Andrew – the prices have always been high there in the UK compared to the US, but they’ve gone through the roof, and it’s especially difficult for me because I’m Cabbie and burn through about 3 tanks a week in my Merc. Reckon it’s costing me the equivalent of about an extra $100 (£80) a week!!! To add to the problem, people are panic buying and creating a shortage. At least the Dodgers have started well to take my mind off it!!
Will Smith America’s catcher
I met Justin Sellers at a signing event sometime around this time. I think it was 2010 or 2011. Super nice guy. Wow have things changed. Come on Mark, you totally have a face for TV, 😉 I don’t lolz. But my face is one only a mother could love.
Wat, are you still cabbing in London? I’m supposed to be out that way next month
Boggs refutes that he wanted to go into the HOF as a Devil Ray. He said the story eminated from when Jose Canseco said that he would go into the HOF as a Devil Ray if he made it, but Boggs never had any desires to go into the Hall as a Devil Ray. Everyone is going to believe what they want. I choose to believe he wanted to go in as a Red Sox, and that his greatest Career Value came with Boston. It is just as likely that Freddie will go into the Hall without a logo on his cap, as Greg Maddux did. Maddux played 11 years for the Braves and 10 for the Cubs and didn’t want to choose between the two. Maddus said on the subject: “My wife Kathy and I grew up in baseball in Chicago, and then we had just an amazing experience in Atlanta with the Braves. It’s impossible for me to choose one of those teams for my Hall of Fame plaque, as the fans of both clubs in each of those cities were so wonderful. I can’t think of having my Hall of Fame induction without support of both of those fan bases, so, for that reason, the cap on my Hall of Fame plaque will not feature a logo.” The HOF calls for Career Value to be driving the decision. With Freddie, I think it is a valid arguement that his Career Value will be fairly equal for both Atlants and LAD. Freddie loved his time with Atlanta, and I do not think that he would want to slight Atlanta. And there is no way he would slight LAD. IMO, he will go into the Hall with no logo on his cap.
Appreciate the well wishes. I know Saski doesn’t want to be a reliever but if the next few starts don’t go good, it’s either AAA or reliever. I wish the best for him too. Mid 60s here today. Really pretty place.
I’m sure there’s something appealing to Freddie having his number up there with Reese, Lasorda, Snider, Hodges, Gilliam, Sutton, Kershaw, Alston, Koufax, Fernando, Campy, Jackie, and Drysdale.
Unfortunately things are going to get worse,before they get better. Dodger baseball is a release from reality for all of us.
I now live in Central London in Bloomsbury, near Russell Square but drive out about 30 minutes every morning to My old town of Watford, on the edge of London. I would be more than happy to pick you up from Heathrow or whatever you need, or just meet up for some food or beers!!
Gone from $.80-$1.22 a liter for diesel here in Panama. Gasoline is similar.
I was reading early today comments about the ABS Challenge System. Reports are favorable about the “entertainment value” that the challenges have provided for fans. So it has been popular as an event and to cheer or boo the HPU. So the question is: It ABS about get each pitched called correctly, or for the entertainment value it creates for the fans? It appears that the circus atmosphere it creates was the goal after all. And I need to except that and move on, despite still thinking this whole escapade was a waste of time.
In Panama, once you hit 70 you have to prove every 2 years that you’re still of sound mind and body. You have to take a doctor’s note with you to the DMV or what their version of it is.
Perfect. I’ll be staying in Mayfair area I think. Once I know, i”ll let you know .
Here in Colorado, you have to do that at 80. I doubt I will be driving much past 2031 if at all. It depends on my eyes a lot. Here, if you have had an eye exam in the last 12 months, which I did last July, they renew without a docs note.
Murakami has homered in 3-straight games for the White Sox. Robert Jr hit his first as a Met the other day.
Phil, one of your posts is in moderation. Pretty sure Mark will approve it as soon as he gets back online.
I never got the whole story. Canseco doesn’t have to worry about getting in the Hall. Messed that up himself.