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Mallex Smith

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Mallex Smith
Smith during spring training in March 2015
Atlanta Braves – No. 17
Center fielder
Born: (1993-05-06) May 6, 1993 (age 31)
Tallahassee, Florida
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through May 3, 2016)
Batting average.218
Home runs1
Runs batted in8
Teams

Mallex Lydell Smith (born May 6, 1993) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early life

Smith was born in Tallahassee, Florida on May 6, 1993, as one of four children to Michael and Loretta Smith.[1][2] He attended James S. Rickards High School, where he played American football as a safety, along with baseball.[3]

Career

Smith was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school.[4] He did not sign with the Brewers, instead playing college baseball at Santa Fe College. In his only collegiate baseball season, Smith hit for a .380 batting average, 17 extra-base hits, 17 runs batted in, and stole 31 bases.[5] He was then drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fifth round of the 2012 Draft.[6] He signed with the Padres for a $375,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut that season with the Arizona League Padres.[7] He also played for the Eugene Emeralds that year, hitting .305 with two home runs and 17 stolen bases between the two teams.

Smith opened the 2013 season with the Fort Wayne TinCaps.[8] He played in 110 games, hitting .262/.367/.340 with four home runs and 64 stolen bases.[9] The stolen bases were one short of the TinCaps record.[10] Smith started 2014 back with Fort Wayne.[11] During the season he was promoted to the Lake Elsinore Storm.[12] He finished the year hitting .310 with five home runs and led all minor league players in stolen bases with 88.[13]

On December 19, 2014, the Padres traded Smith, Dustin Peterson, Max Fried, and Jace Peterson to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Justin Upton and Aaron Northcraft.[14] Smith was invited to attend spring training with the Braves, despite not having any Double A experience at the time.[15] He began the 2015 season with the Mississippi Braves, appearing in 57 games, hitting for a .340 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage, before being promoted to the Gwinnett Braves of the Class AAA International League in June.[16] Smith finished the season at Class AAA, hitting .306, with a .706 on base plus slugging percentage for the year. He was named the Braves' Minor League Player of the Year for all levels and added to 40-man roster after the season.[17][18]

Smith started the 2016 season with Gwinnett.[19] The Braves promoted Smith to the major leagues on April 11, 2016.[20] He debuted that night against the Washington Nationals, starting in center field. Smith went 1-for-3 in his first game, with a strikeout and a single against Max Scherzer. Smith's helmet lacerated his forehead on a stolen base attempt in the fourth inning, and he left the game.[21] Two days later, Smith recorded his first stolen base against the same team.[22] His first career RBI on April 17 helped the Braves sweep the Miami Marlins.[23] Smith hit his first home run off of New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey on May 3.[24]

References

  1. ^ Heneghan, Kelsie (March 8, 2016). "Braves' cunning Smith learns on basepaths". MILB.com. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  2. ^ Whelan, Joe (June 16, 2014). "Speed In The Genes For TinCaps Smith". WANE-TV. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  3. ^ Walton, Caroll Rogers (May 29, 2015). "Mallex Smith leading the way for Mississippi Braves". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  4. ^ Henry, Jim (June 6, 2012). "Former Rickards standout Mallex Smith taken in 5th round of MLB Draft". USA Today. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. ^ Zickel, Tyler (July 21, 2014). "One-on-One: Mallex Smith". MILB.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  6. ^ Conniff, John (October 20, 2014). "MadFriars' Minor League Player of the Year: Mallex Smith". Fox Sports. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  7. ^ Curtright, Guy (May 26, 2015). "Southern notes: Smith earns high praise". MILB.com. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  8. ^ Couzens, Mike (March 31, 2013). "TinCaps Announce Preliminary Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  9. ^ "Pipeline Perspectives: Smith to be top thief in Minors". MLB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  10. ^ Couzens, Mike (March 31, 2014). "Norwell's VanMeter Highlights Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  11. ^ Henry, Jim (May 18, 2014). "Smith on the run in Padres organization". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  12. ^ "Mallex Smith running away with SB title". U-T San Diego. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  13. ^ Fox Sports. "MadFriars' End of the Year Review: Lake Elsinore". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  14. ^ Joseph, Andrew (December 19, 2014). "Another Justin Upton trade brings more doubt". Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  15. ^ Bowman, Mark (January 12, 2016). "Prospect Smith could break into bigs in '16". MLB.com. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  16. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 24, 2015). "Braves promote OF prospect Smith to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  17. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 11, 2015). "Jenkins, Smith lead Braves' Minors honors". MLB.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Bowman, Mark (November 19, 2015). "Braves add Smith, Gant to 40-man roster". Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  19. ^ Bowman, Mark (March 18, 2016). "Braves send five top prospects to Minors". MLB.com. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  20. ^ Cunningham, Michael (April 11, 2016). "Braves to place Inciarte on DL, call up prospect Mallex Smith". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  21. ^ Bowman, Mark (April 11, 2016). "Smith pulled with forehead laceration in debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  22. ^ Dorsey, Steve (April 17, 2016). "Mallex's whirlwind week ends with game-winner". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  23. ^ Frisaro, Joe; Dorsey, Steve (April 17, 2016). "Mallex's first RBI clinches Marlins sweep". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  24. ^ Bowman, Mark (May 3, 2016). "Mallex's first 3B becomes first HR after review". MLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
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