Major League Baseball

Mets Prospect Analysis: Dominic Smith

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:58 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Dan LaMorte/FanSided via Rising Apple

If the Mets’ future at first base is the question, then Dominic Smith might be the answer.

A strong first baseman is an essential part to any team, not only in the field but at the plate.  Lucas Duda, coming off a injury plagued 2016 season, is a free agent come 2018, thus bringing up talks of the Mets’ future at first base.  And when future first baseman talks come up in the Mets world, it’s hard to avoid Dominic Smith.

Smith’s 2016 season with the Double-A Binghamton Mets (now the Rumble Ponies) was one he will remember. With a triple slash reading .302/.367/.457 and a team leading 14 home runs and 91 RBI, Smith certainly impressed.

As likely as his Triple-A call up is his expected boost in numbers when he gets to Las Vegas, a league known to produce gaudy numbers for hitters and lackluster numbers for pitchers.

What can we expect from Dominic Smith in 2017?

With an expected increase of numbers in his 2017 season in Vegas, it’s hard to envision Smith not getting the big league call up this season or the next.

In fact, if Duda goes down again, it seems as if Smith would be the go-to option. However, this call up wouldn’t make everyone happy, as Smith has drawn negative reviews in the past.

It can be said that he lacks power numbers against lefties and due to a tendency of constantly trying to hit the ball the other way, he tends to hit cue shots or swing and miss at easy to hit pitches.

Regardless of some of the negativity surrounding Smith, he is still one of the Mets’ most exciting prospects. At 21 years old, it is hard to stir up too much negativity. With maturity comes an increase in strength and with getting to higher levels comes an increase in the coaching he will get.

Writing Dominic Smith off would be a travesty. At a position where the Mets need help, he can be the answer. Keep a close eye on his 2017 performance, and don’t be surprised if Smith jerseys are soon filling the stands at Citi Field.

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