Pavin Smith - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Finds home at first base Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said Tuesday that Smith will stick to first base instead of playing multiple positions this season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "We've neve...

Impact Entering camp, the Diamondbacks plan to platoon Smith (against right-handers) with Carlos Santana (against lefties). Implied in the general manager's comments is the expectation that Smith show improved defense, which would help him maintain the strongside platoon role. Smith recorded a .258/.362/.434 slash line with eight home runs and 28 RBI over 87 games and 287 plate appearances in 2025, the most playing time he's had since 2021.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Team explores alternatives at 1B Smith could face competition at first base with the Diamondbacks interested free agent Carlos Santana, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.

Impact Smith heads into spring training as the putative starter at first base against right-handers, but the organization isn't done adding pieces. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he'd like find another "complementary first baseman." Santana is a switch hitter that could fit in a platoon with Smith while also supplanting him from the left side. Gambadoro's report also indicates that the team is talking with other free agent first basemen, including former D-back Paul Goldschmidt.

FEBRUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Agrees to terms with D-Backs Smith (quadriceps) signed a one-year, $2.25 million deal with the Diamondbacks to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jack Sommers of DBacks on SI reports.

Impact Smith missed nearly all of the second half of the 2025 season with a combination of oblique and quadriceps injuries. He'll likely begin the 2026 campaign on the strong side of a platoon at first base, assuming he returns to health.

JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Transferred to 60-day IL The Diamondbacks transferred Smith (quadriceps) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Impact Smith's season is over after suffering a strained quad earlier this week. The lefty-hitting outfielder and first baseman appeared in just 87 games this season, slashing .258/.362/.434 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, 17 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 41:92 BB:K across 288 trips to the plate.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Likely done for season Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Smith (quadriceps) is "trending toward" missing the remainder of the season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

Impact Smith landed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a quad strain suffered during a game Wednesday. His absence opens up playing time at first base and designated hitter. Tyler Locklear has started at first base in the two games since Smith sustained the injury, while Ketel Marte has operated as the DH.

AUGUST 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

IL move official The Diamondbacks placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 28, with a strained left quad.

Impact Smith was lifted from Wednesday's game against Milwaukee with quad tightness and further evaluation confirmed he's dealing with a strain. Jordan Lawlar was recalled from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move, but Tyler Locklear should handle most of the work at first base while Smith is idle.

AUGUST 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Bound for IL Smith (quadriceps) is likely to be placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's series opener against the Dodgers, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith was removed from Wednesday's win over the Brewers due to left quad tightness. He won't stick around in Milwaukee for Thursday's series finale and will instead head back to Phoenix to undergo imaging. Assuming the MRI confirms a quad strain, Smith will likely require a stint on the IL. Tyler Locklear will start at first base Thursday and should serve as the Diamondbacks' primary option at the position while Smith is shelved.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

IL-bound with quad injury Smith (quadriceps) is likely to be placed on the 10-day injured list, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith was lifted from Wednesday's game against the Brewers with tightness in his left quad. He is headed back to Phoenix to undergo imaging, and the Diamondbacks seem to be anticipating that he has a strain and will need time on the IL. Tyler Locklear is starting at first base for Arizona on Thursday and should play there regularly while Smith is shelved.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Idle due to quad tightness Smith (quadriceps) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

Impact After exiting early in Wednesday's 3-2 win due to left quad tightness, Smith will take a seat for Thursday's matinee contest. The Diamondbacks seem to be classifying Smith as day-to-day, and even if he had emerged from Wednesday's contest without an injury, he likely would have been in line to sit Thursday since the Brewers are sending a lefty starter (Jose Quintana) to the bump. Tyler Locklear will get the nod at first base in the series finale.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Idle due to quad tightness Smith (quadriceps) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with trainer Smith was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to left quadriceps tightness.

Impact Smith tweaked his quad while running out of the batter's box after hitting a single in the seventh inning, and he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. The severity of his injury remains unclear, but more details may emerge after the game. If the 29-year-old ends up needing to miss time, Tyler Locklear would be the next man up to start at first base.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with trainer Smith was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers with an apparent injury, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.

Impact It looked like Smith tweaked something while running out of the batter's box after hitting a single in the seventh inning, and he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. The Diamondbacks will bring him in for a closer look and should provide more details on the nature of his injury shortly. If he ends up needing to miss time, Tyler Locklear would be the next man up to start at first base.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Resting against southpaw Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Impact After returning from the injured list Monday, the left-handed-hitting Smith was included in the lineup for the first two games of the series while the Guardians send right-handed starters to the hill. With southpaw Parker Messick toeing the rubber for Cleveland in the finale, Smith will give way to the right-handed-hitting Tyler Locklear at first base. The two players could end up forming a loose platoon at the position over the final few weeks of the season.

AUGUST 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Hitless in return Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in Monday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland.

Impact Smith was activated off the injured list Monday and was in the lineup against a right-hander. He was eventually pinch hit for against a lefty reliever by the right-handed batting Tyler Locklear, who had served as the primary first baseman since the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor. The two could operate as a platoon at the cold corner while Arizona is nominally a competitor for the postseason. At some point, the organization may want to see if the 24-year-old Locklear is a long-term solution.

AUGUST 19, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated from IL The Diamondbacks reinstated Smith (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Impact Smith has spent the last six weeks recovering from a right oblique strain that landed him on the 10-day IL in early July. He ended his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on a strong note, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's contest. Smith should see regular work between designated hitter and first base, though he could rotate in with Adrian Del Castillo and Tyler Locklear.

AUGUST 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated from IL, starting Monday The Diamondbacks reinstated Smith (oblique) from the 10-day injured list and is starting at first base and batting fifth against the Guardians on Monday.

Impact Smith has spent the last six weeks recovering from a right oblique strain that landed him on the 10-day IL in early July. He ended his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on a strong note, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's contest. Smith will get the start at first base over Tyler Locklear on Monday, and the former could also work in rotation with Adrian Del Castillo at DH.

AUGUST 18, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Plays 1B on rehab assignment Smith (oblique) started at first base in the first two games of his rehab assignment, going 2-for-8 with a double and a run scored.

Impact Smith was on the field Tuesday for seven innings and Wednesday for eight innings before getting a day off Thursday. He could be activated ahead of the Diamondbacks' next homestand, beginning Monday, but it's unclear what role Smith will have for a team that's punted on the 2025 season. Tyler Locklear, who was acquired from Seattle in the Eugenio Suarez deal, has been the primary first baseman since joining Arizona. As for DH, the Diamondbacks are giving prospect Adrian Del Castillo, a lefty batter like Smith, a good look there.

AUGUST 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Reno Smith (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith, who recently was cleared for live batting practice, has been playing in games at the team's training facility in Arizona. The Diamondbacks have punted on this season, and it's unclear if the veteran 1B/DH will resume a role as the primary designated hitter against righties. Tyler Locklear, who was part of the Eugenio Suarez deal, is handling first base, while DH has been a rotation of bodies, including prospect Adrian Del Castillo.

AUGUST 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Reno Smith (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

AUGUST 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for live batting practice Smith (oblique) will take live batting practice Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Impact Smith has been shelved since July 6 due to a right oblique strain but is set to take a notable step forward Tuesday. If he emerges from Tuesday's baseball activities without suffering any type of setback, the team could get him live at-bats during a minor-league game Thursday, per Weiner.

AUGUST 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

In line for greater role Smith (oblique) could become the primary starter at first base after the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor to the Mariners on Thursday, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith first needs to get over his oblique injury. He recently began taking dry swings, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to rejoin Arizona. If he is handed the job at first base, it will likely be against right-handers only. He has just 17 at-bats against lefties in 2025.

JULY 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Taking dry swings Smith (oblique) has begun taking dry swings, MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith is a little more than two weeks removed from landing on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain and is at the beginning stages of a hitting progression. A timetable for Smith's return to the Diamondbacks' active roster should be available soon as he ramps things up.

JULY 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on injured list The Diamondbacks placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right oblique strain.

Impact Smith presumably suffered the injury Saturday against the Royals, as went 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. The 29-year-old will be eligible to be reinstated coming out of the All-Star break, but a longer absence wouldn't be surprising given that he's dealing with an oblique issue.

JULY 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in two in loss Smith went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's 9-8 loss to Miami.

Impact Smith drew the Diamondbacks closer with a two-run single in the ninth inning, but the comeback stalled there. He's lifted his run production of late, knocking in 10 runs over the last eight games. That's a greater number of RBI than he had in the entire months of May/April or May. For the season, Smith has 27 RBI across 73 contests.

JUNE 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in two in loss Smith went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's 9-8 loss to Miami.

JUNE 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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