Kevin Smith - Page 2 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Set for swing progression Smith (back) is slated to begin a swing progression Friday, the team's official site reports.

Impact Smith has been sidelined since June 17 with a back strain, and the fact he's finally ready to pick up a bat again nearly a month later underscores the severity of the original injury. Now that the 27-year-old appears to finally be making some progress, it remains to be seen how quickly he'll be deemed ready to begin what would project to be a fairly lengthy rehab assignment.

JULY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Receiving second opinion on back Smith will receive a second opinion on his back injury, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list by the A's on June 17 with a back strain, and the infielder remains without a timeline for a return. The second opinion from medical experts will likely go a long way towards determining when Smith is able to get back on the diamond, and there should be an update on his status in the coming days.

JUNE 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on injured list Smith was placed on the 10-day injured list with a back strain Saturday.

Impact Smith was scratched from the lineup Friday due to back issues, and he's evidently dealing with an injury serious enough to knock him out for at least 10 days. He'd only managed a .191/.216/.330 line in 102 trips to the plate prior to the injury, so his absence is unlikely to be a big blow to Oaklands' fortunes. Tyler Wade was called up to take his place on the roster, but it's Aledmys Diaz who gets the start at shortstop Saturday against the Phillies.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with back tightness Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Smith was experiencing back tightness ahead of Friday's game against the Phillies, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith's late removal from the lineup was labeled as a precautionary move, so it's unlikely he's facing an extended absence. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.

JUNE 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scratched from lineup Smith was scratched from the Athletics' lineup Friday.

Impact It's unknown why Smith was taken out of the A's lineup, but more information should come out in the near future. In the meantime, Aledmys Diaz will take Smith's place at shortstop and bat seventh.

JUNE 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Breather Tuesday Smith is not in the starting lineup Tuesday versus the Rays.

Impact Smith will take a seat after he went 2-for-6 with a solo homer, two runs scored and two strikeouts while starting the last two contests. Aledmys Diaz will take over at shortstop and bat seventh against Tampa Bay.

JUNE 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks fourth homer Sunday Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a win over the Brewers on Sunday.

Impact Smith joined the Athletics' offensive barrage in the seventh inning, leaving the yard via a 383-foot shot to left field for his fourth homer of the season. The shortstop had been mired in a 3-for-20 slump over the eight games prior to Sunday's, but manager Mark Kotsay appears committed to continuing to afford Smith near-everyday playing time for the moment.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Saturday Smith will sit Saturday against the Brewers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith started a pair of games after getting recalled earlier this week, going 2-for-9 at the plate. He'll retreat to the bench Saturday as Aledmys Diaz takes over at shortstop.

JUNE 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Multi-hit effort in return start Smith went 2-for-5 in a win over the Pirates on Wednesday.

Impact Drawing his first start since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, Smith delivered his first multi-hit effort since April 26. The 26-year-old infielder had produced just a .184 average and .521 OPS with the Athletics during his previous 82 plate appearances with the team this season, and he's expected to be given an extended look at shortstop this time around with the hopes he can replicate some of the success he's enjoyed with the Aviators down on the farm (.282 average, .972 OPS).

JUNE 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in Oakland The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Impact Smith was optioned to Las Vegas on May 14 after recording just a .521 OPS in the majors through 82 plate appearances. Since returning to the minors, he's slashing .268/.302/.488 with two homers and eight RBI and has now earned a return to Oakland. Nick Allen was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

JUNE 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Triple-A Smith was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.

Impact Smith was called up by the A's on April 10 and will head back to the minors after he posted a .184/.205/.316 slash line with three home runs, seven RBI and eight runs in 82 plate appearances. Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Crushes third homer of season Smith went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-7 victory over Texas.

Impact Smith 433-foot shot to left-center tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning. This marks just the sixth homer of the shortstop's career, and he still hasn't batted over .200 in the big leagues yet. The 26-year-old is not a realistic option in fantasy yet.

MAY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in loss Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a loss to the Angels.

Impact The Athletics were routed in the contest, but Smith had a productive performance with his second homer and second multi-hit effort of the campaign. The infielder has started each of the first three games in the series against the Angels, going 4-for-10 with a pair of homers and four RBI.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blasts three-run homer Monday Smith went 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Monday.

Impact The Athletics' offense finally had a breakout night in the new season, and Smith followed teammates Brent Rooker and Jesus Aguilar in leaving the yard early in the contest. Rooker's 385-foot shot to left in the second inning was the most productive of the three early round trippers, as it plated Aledmys Diaz and Carlos Perez to push Oakland's lead to 5-0 at the time. Smith has now hit safely in four consecutive starts as he slowly begins to crawl out of an early-season hole at the plate that is responsible for his slash line still sitting at an abysmal .186/.186/.279 even when factoring in recent success.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Sunday Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Impact Smith started the past six games and will step out of the lineup Sunday after he went 5-for-22 during that span. Tyler Wade will take over at shortstop in the series finale versus Texas.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Captures everyday role Smith will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Impact Smith will be making his fourth consecutive start and looks to have at least temporarily settled in as Oakland's everyday shortstop. Though Smith likely doesn't have a long leash given that he enters Wednesday's contest having slashed .143/.143/.143 through 29 plate appearances on the season, the 3-15 Athletics aren't teeming with appealing alternatives, especially with two of their top hitters in Seth Brown (oblique) and Ramon Laureano (groin) recently moving to the injured list.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Steals base Sunday Smith went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Mets.

Impact Smith kicked off the fifth inning with a single and then stole second before coming around to score on a base hit by Esteury Ruiz. The 26-year-old has just three hits and a 10:0 K:BB over 23 plate appearances since being called up April 10.

APRIL 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets promotion The Athletics recalled Smith from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.

Impact Smith joins the 26-man active roster as a replacement for outfielder/first baseman Seth Brown (oblique), who was placed on the 10-day injured list. While he's up with Oakland, the righty-hitting Smith could fill the short side of a platoon at third base with the lefty-hitting Jace Peterson.

APRIL 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Being recalled Monday Smith will be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith is going to replace Seth Brown on the roster with Brown heading to the injured list with his left oblique injury. The infielder came up short on his bid to make the Opening Day roster, but he'll get a chance to be a bench option for the Athletics while Brown recovers.

APRIL 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Game continues to slow down at Triple-A for surging Smith As Spring Training came down to its final days last month and Kevin Smith showed no signs of slowing down from his tear at the plate, the A’...

APRIL 9, 2023 • MLB.COM

Heading to Triple-A Manager Mark Kotsay announced Monday that Smith didn't make the Athletics' Opening Day roster and will begin the season with Triple-A Las Vegas, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco...

Impact The 26-year-old was in the running to claim Oakland's last bench spot, but Brent Rooker instead won the job. Smith began last season as the club's primary third baseman but played in just 47 big-league games and had a .518 OPS and 27.9 percent strikeout rate. He had a .268/.31/.446 slash line across 86 contests for Las Vegas last year, and he'll likely receive another look in the majors at some point in 2023.

MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Keeps raking in Thursday's tie Smith went 3-for-4 with a pair of run-scoring singles that netted three RBI, a double and a run in a Cactus League tie with the Rangers on Thursday.

Impact Smith's torrid spring continued with his fourth multi-hit effort of Cactus League play, which pushed his average to .385 and his RBI total to 14. The 26-year-old does have 15 strikeouts in 46 plate appearances, but the upside he's flashed when putting the ball in play seemingly gives him job security as a reserve infielder who could progressively work himself into a solid amount of playing time.

MARCH 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Spring training roundup: Kevin Smith, A's outslug Rangers Kevin Smith slugged a walk-off grand slam as the Oakland Athletics scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth to rally past the Texas Rang...

MARCH 11, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Goes yard Sunday Smith, who went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 10-3 Cactus League loss to the Padres, is now hitting .353 (6-for-17) across seven Cactus League contests.

Impact Smith has hit safely in three of the last four exhibitions, and he also notably got Cactus League play off to a rousing start with a two-hit, three-RBI day against the Diamondbacks on Feb. 25. On the other hand, he has a 0:8 BB:K so far this spring after posting a 27.8 percent strikeout rate in the majors in 2022, and a 30.0 percent rate at Triple-A. The 26-year-old struggled to a .180/.216/.302 slash line across 151 plate appearances at the big-league level last year, but he's put up impressive power/speed numbers at every minor-league stop and can potentially fill in at shortstop, third base, designated hitter and the corner outfield spots.

MARCH 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Still scuffling in Vegas Smith, who was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 13, has produced a .208/.257/.228 slash line over his first 25 games with the Aviators.

Impact Smith has alarmingly struck out at a higher clip (31.2 percent) with Las Vegas than he did with the Athletics (27.8 percent), and both his batting average and on-base percentage are only marginally better than the respective .180 and .216 figures he generated in those categories at the big-league level. The 26-year-old, who did post a .285 average and .931 OPS with Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization last season, figures to remain in Las Vegas trying to iron out the kinks for the time being unless injuries necessitate a promotion.

JULY 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

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