PAVIN SMITH NEWS

Optioned to minors The Diamondbacks optioned Smith to Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Impact Smith didn't hit much this spring and had options remaining, so he finds himself on the outside looking in for an Opening Day roster spot. The 28-year-old should play regularly at Reno between first base and the outfield.

MARCH 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Included on WC roster Smith is on the roster for the Diamondbacks' Wild Card Series matchup against the Brewers.

Impact Smith slashed just .188/.317/.325 across 228 major-league plate appearances during the 2023 regular season, but he'll give the Diamondbacks a bit of extra left-handed thump off the bench in their best-of-three series versus Milwaukee. They're carrying 14 position players and 12 pitchers.

OCTOBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Smith was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Reno, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.

Impact Smith went 1-for-7 with three walks and two strikeouts during his 11-day stay with the Diamondbacks and is slashing just .188/.317/.325 across 228 total major-league plate appearances this year. Jake McCarthy has been recalled from Reno in a corresponding move.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Makes first start since call-up Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 in Sunday's 8-5 loss to Baltimore.

Impact Smith made his first start since the Diamondbacks recalled him for the September roster expansion. Both plate appearances came against right-hander Jack Flaherty, and Smith was removed for a pinch hitter once a lefty reliever entered. The lefty-swinging Smith could spot in against right-handers at times during the final month, but he's not part of a platoon situation where fantasy owners could count on him being in a starting lineup.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Triple-A The Diamondbacks recalled Smith from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Impact Smith is slashing .297/.419/.457 with 32 RBI since being optioned to Triple-A at the end of June and will now rejoin the active roster as it expands from 26 to 28 players. Smith will provide Arizona with a bench bat down the stretch and, he is capable of playing in the outfield and at first base.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A Smith was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Friday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Impact Smith will head to Triple-A in the midst of a cold spell at the plate, batting .130 with two homers, eight RBI, eight runs scored and 16 strikeouts over 69 at-bats in 21 games during June. He'll head to Reno and look to get right while Kyle Lewis was called up to replace Smith on major-league roster Friday.

JUNE 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hits the skids Smith went 0-for-5 in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Giants.

Impact Smith's average dropped to .196 following the game. His last hit came June 17, and he's 3-for-29 (.107) over the last 10 games. Smith, who has managed to grind out eight walks during the slump, is batting just .169 since the beginning of May.

JUNE 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench again Smith is not in Thursday's lineup against the Nationals.

Impact Smith started against righties for four straight games from June 15-18, but he has sat against three of the last four righties Arizona has faced, so it would seem he is falling into a bench role. Alek Thomas, whose playing time is trending up, gets the start in the outfield while Ketel Marte gets the nod at designated hitter.

JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Tuesday Smith is absent from the lineup Tuesday versus the Brewers.

Impact Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Jake McCarthy will start across the outfield while Lourdes Gurriel takes a turn as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter. Smith had a decent showing over the weekend against Cleveland but is slashing just .161/.266/.268 in 65 plate appearances since the beginning of June.

JUNE 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Monday Smith is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Brewers.

Impact Smith will get a breather after he went 3-for-10 with an RBI and a run scored over the three-game series with Cleveland. Jake McCarthy will slide over to right field while Alek Thomas draws the start in center and bats eighth in the opener in Milwaukee.

JUNE 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dropped to sixth Smith batted sixth and went 2-for-4 in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.

Impact A day after he was given a vote of confidence as a leadoff hitter from manager Torey Lovullo, Smith was dropped to the six hole Saturday. Since May 27, he'd been the primary leadoff batter against right-handers but was dropped against Cleveland righty Shane Bieber. Smith's numbers atop the order (.148/.258/.333) don't support his continued use in that role, but Lovullo sounded optimistic when speaking with Eli McKown of the Arizona Republic on Friday. Geraldo Perdomo moved from the lower third of the order to leadoff Saturday.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Halts skid Smith went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI in Friday's 5-1 win over the Guardians.

Impact Smith entered the game on an 0-for-10 run, which expanded to 0-for-12 before his sixth-inning single plated a run. He batted leadoff once again, which he's regularly done since May 27, and received a vote of confidence in that role from manager Torey Lovullo prior to Friday's game, Eli McKown of Arizona Republic reports. "I don't want to run from the success that he's had," Lovullo said pregame. "I know that he's very capable of getting a great run." Despite the manager's confidence, Smith is batting just .148/.248/.221 from the leadoff spot.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in win Smith went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's win over the Tigers.

Impact Smith gave the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead with his two-run shot off Joey Wentz. It's his seventh homer of the season and his first against a lefty. Smith had been stuck in a 3-for-29 (.103) slump coming into Sunday's contests. He's now slashing .209./316/.385 with 27 RBI and 23 runs scored through 172 place appearances while platooning against right-handing pitching.

JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Smacks sixth home run Smith went 2-for-6 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.

Impact After going hitless (0-for-11) across his last three appearances, Smith rattled off a pair of hits Tuesday, highlighted by a seventh-inning long ball off Chad Kuhl. Though Smith has struggled atop the Arizona lineup (.147 AVG) so far, he should be expected to move back toward his season average of .212 and provide considerable fantasy value as the leadoff man for MLB's sixth highest scoring offense.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Smith batted leadoff and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Smith was back in the lineup after getting a day off Friday. He also back at leadoff with Arizona facing right-hander Spencer Strider. The leadoff experiment started a couple of weeks ago and produced mixed results. Smith is 5-for-30 (.167) with five walks (.286 OBP) in eight games atop the order.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Friday Smith is not in the starting lineup Friday versus Atlanta.

Impact Smith will get a day off after he went 3-for-8 with a homer, a double, four RBI and three runs scored while drawing four walks and striking out twice in the team's series with Colorado. Ketel Marte will slot in at designated hitter while Nick Ahmed enters the lineup at shortstop and bats eighth in the series opener with Atlanta.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reaches base five times Smith went 2-for-2 with three walks, a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over Colorado.

Impact Smith finally looked like a leadoff hitter Wednesday, reaching base five times. That equaled the number of times he reached base safely over the previous eight contests as Arizona's leadoff batter. In nine games atop the order, Smith is 5-for-29 with five walks. The lefty hitter should be back there once again Thursday against Colorado right-hander Connor Seabold.

JUNE 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

At leadoff again Wednesday Smith is hitting leadoff again Wednesday against the Rockies.

Impact Smith has batted just .212 with a .315 on-base percentage through 39 games (130 plate appearances) this season, but he's been at leadoff in each of his last four starts and seems to be the Diamondbacks' preferred option for that role against right-handed pitching. Colorado is throwing righty Dinelson Lamet on Wednesday.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats three-run homer Smith went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 7-5 win against the Rockies on Monday.

Impact Smith's lone hit of the game was a big one, as his 426-foot three-run shot in the second inning gave the Diamondbacks a lead that they did not relinquish. The long ball snapped a four-game hitless stretch for Smith during which he had gone 0-for-14. Despite the big blast Monday, the 27-year-old is batting a paltry .104 over his past 14 contests. On the plus side, three of his five hits during that span have left the park.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out against lefty Smith isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup Friday against the Red Sox.

Impact Smith will begin Friday's contest in the dugout while the Red Sox prepare to start the game with southpaw Chris Sale on the mound. In Smith's place, Evan Longoria will serve as the DH and bat fifth.

MAY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Tuesday Smith is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies.

Impact Evan Longoria will take a turn at designated hitter and bat sixth versus the Phillies and left-hander Matt Strahm. Lourdes Gurriel, Dominic Fletcher and Corbin Carroll are starting across the outfield.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Belts solo homer in win Smith went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-3 win over Philadelphia.

Impact Smith's fifth-inning shot turned out to be the game-winning hit. It was the second straight game in which Smith batted leadoff, as it appears he'll be atop the order against righties. The home run, his fourth, was the second in the last three games after going 23 games without one.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

In leadoff spot again Smith is in the leadoff spot again for the Diamondbacks on Monday in Philadelphia.

Impact It's the second game in a row that Smith has hit leadoff, as it appears it will be the new setup for Arizona at least against right-handed pitching. Josh Rojas had been the team's regular leadoff man versus righties but will again be hitting sixth in this one.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bats leadoff Sunday Smith batted leadoff and went 1-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Pirates.

Impact This was the first time Smith hit leadoff for Arizona, which usually employs Josh Rojas atop the order against right-handers or Ketel Marte against lefties. It's unclear if this will a common practice going forward.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swats go-ahead home run Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.

Impact Though Smith was retired by Mitch Keller in each of his first two plate appearances, Smith had the most important swing of the day, taking reliever Robert Stephenson yard for a two-run long shot that plated Lourdes Gurriel and gave the Diamondbacks a one-run advantage. The homer was Smith's first since April 19 (23 games) and just his third of the year. In his last six appearances, Smith has hit just 2-for-21 (.095) with six strikeouts.

MAY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE