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 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.