PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Mets’ hitting coach Kevin Long didn’t get a scouting report on one of the organization’s top prospects from one of the organization’s scouts. In fact, he didn’t even get a report from anyone on the Mets’ payroll, instead getting information from someone on the payroll of the team’s NL East rival.
Long heard all about the legend of Dominic Smith from his son, Jaron, a minor leaguer in the Nationals’ system.
“He said, ‘Don’t leave the ball up because it might not come back,'” Long said. “He said you’ve got to be real careful when you pitch to him.”
Outfield overcrowding
And Jaron would know, since he’s had to pitch against Smith in the Eastern League.
“He’s a dangerous hitter,” Long said. “(Jaron) said he takes what you give him, meaning if you go down and away, he doesn’t get big, he’s willing to take a single the other way. But if you make a mistake in a damage part of the zone, he can hurt you that way too.”
What Long’s son said echoes what some scouts have said as well: Smith has the potential to be a power hitter, even if his numbers haven’t reflected that in the minor leagues just yet.
The left-handed hitting Los Angeles native is in spring training hoping to show that he can hit for more than just average this season.
“Every year when you go into a new season, you’re looking to improve in every category,” Smith said. “And where I’m at right now with my body and my hitting mechanics, I think those numbers should improve.”
Smith worked on more than just his hitting during the offseason, dropping 24 pounds to come into camp around 234. He did it by following a diet and exercise program set up by Mike Barwis, the Mets’ senior strength and conditioning advisor in Michigan and continuing it with another trainer in Fresno, Calif.
He didn’t want to drop too much weight and lose all of his muscle, but enough that would make a difference when it came to extra bases.
Smith has been billed as power-hitter since he was taken as the 11th pick in the 2013 draft. But he never really put up power numbers in the minor leagues until last season, when he hit 14 home runs and slugged .409 with Double-A Binghamton. Smith always hit for average, and people like ESPN scouting analyst Keith Law and Mets’ director of minor league operations Ian Levin said they knew the power would come.
Mets trying out several at first base
“My first few years, I was probably a hit-first type of player,” Smith said. “I always just wanted to get base hits. But last year, I really wanted to focus on driving the ball and doing damage. I hit in the middle of the lineup and I’m not going to steal a ton of bases, so I just felt like last year was the year where I just tried to be more productive in that category.”
And if Smith doesn’t hit for power in Triple-A this season? That’s fine, he says, because he’ll prove himself to be a well-rounded first baseman.
“That’s what the Mets preach: They tell me and all of the other hitters here that power is the last tool to develop,” Smith said. “I’ve worked hard and I know I can hit the ball down the line. I feel like if I learn how to hit, those doubles I to the opposite field or start pulling, they’ll eventually start going over.”
Mets Spring Training Day 6
Abbey Mastracco may be reached at amastracco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbeymastracco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
