Appy notes: Smith settling in with Blue Jays
When the Blue Jays made shortstop Kevin Smith their fourth-round selection in June, it put Smith in a good position to make the jump following his junior season at the University of Maryland.It also made him the second shortstop the organization selected early in the Draft. But Smith, who made his
When the Blue Jays made shortstop Kevin Smith their fourth-round selection in June, it put Smith in a good position to make the jump following his junior season at the University of Maryland.
It also made him the second shortstop the organization selected early in the Draft.
But Smith, who made his professional debut with Rookie-level Bluefield on June 22, sees the benefits of the situation.
"It was a dream coming true and you've been looking forward to that opportunity," Smith said. "It was an easy choice for me. It was a great opportunity for me."
Toronto made another college shortstop, North Carolina's Logan Warmoth, its first-round selection.
Smith has been pegged as a shortstop at the early stage of his professional career, and Bluefield manager Dennis Holmberg noted Smith has shown good instincts at the position during the first weeks of the season.
"That's what I've been playing so far," Smith said. "That's the goal."
Holmberg said Smith is on a plan similar to other newcomers in the organization, thus a three-game stretch when his lone outing came as a designated hitter. But the objective for the summer will be to see what he can do on the field.
On July 4, his 21st birthday, Smith was back at shortstop and produced two doubles and walked twice.
"He has fit in nicely," Holmberg said. "He's figuring some things out at the plate. He competes at the plate and you like that."
Smith built a reputation in college as a power hitter, ranking in the top 10 in Maryland history in home runs and RBIs. With just two weeks with Bluefield, he said he needs to get back in the groove.
Still, he had at least one hit in seven of his first 10 games.
"I have high expectations for myself," Smith said, describing his success in college summer leagues as something that gives him confidence with wooden bats. "I can get a little better with the bat. I want to take control of that."
Last summer, Smith competed in the Cape Cod League, where he was named MVP and had the opportunity to face Warmoth. Now, they are fellow prospects in the Blue Jays organization.
"It will be fun to work with him in the upcoming years," Smith said.
That's why Smith didn't read too much into the Draft and any perceived pecking order.
"You can't figure out the Draft. Anything can happen," he said. "You don't know what their priorities are. Just let it all play out."
Smith said the adjustment to small-town Bluefield, West Virginia, has been smooth, pointing to his upstate New York roots in East Greenbush. He said the atmosphere around the team has been positive, specifically noting Holmberg's ability to keep things loose.
"It's a big transition and you have to stay with the grind and trust what you're doing," Smith said. "Control what you can control."
In brief
Powerful start: Outfielder Michael Gigliotti hit three home runs this year as a junior at Lipscomb University, so it wasn't easy to explain his two-homer professional debut with the Burlington Royals. In his fourth game, he drilled two triples. Still, the Florida native realizes there's plenty of season left. "This game is a very humbling sport," said Gigliotti, a 20-year-old drafted in the fourth round. "The second you think you're high and mighty, you get the rug pulled out from underneath you."
Time well spent: Danville Braves pitcher Kyle Muller, a second-round pick in 2016, said when he didn't make a full-season team out of Spring Training he concentrated on fine-tuning his mechanics. By his second outing with Danville, he logged five shutout innings at Burlington. "[I] had a slow Spring Training, so I stayed and worked on some things," he said. "I had better feel with everything. My offspeed was there for me."
That hurt: Kingsport Mets third baseman Yeffry De Aza exited the first game of the season when he suffered a severely sprained right ankle in the second inning on a successful steal of second base. The 20-year-old, who needed assistance leaving the field, is back for a second season with Kingsport. He could resume regular baseball activities by mid-July.
Bob Sutton is a contributor to MiLB.com.
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring