Pavin Smith
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Pavin Smith
|image = File:Pavin Smith.jpg
|caption = Smith with the Virginia Cavaliers in 2017
|number = 26
|team = Arizona Diamondbacks
|position = First baseman / Right fielder
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|2|6}}
|birth_place = Jupiter, Florida, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 12
|debutyear = 2020
|debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks
|statyear = June 8, 2025
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .249
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 41
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 168
|baseball_ref= s/smithpa04
|teams =
- Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2020}}–present)
}}
Pavin Joe Smith (born February 6, 1996) is an American professional baseball first baseman and right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers. The Diamondbacks selected Smith in the 2017 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut in 2020.
Amateur career
Pavin participated in the Babe Ruth League's 2008 Cal Ripken Major70 World Series. His two home runs in the World Championship helped his Jupiter, Florida team defeat Mexico, 5–4.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20080816&content_id=3319652&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Ripken World Series won on walk-off|publisher=Major League Baseball|language=en|access-date=June 13, 2017}} Smith attended Palm Beach Gardens Community High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He was a first baseman and pitcher for the school's baseball team .{{cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-04-19/sports/fl-baseball-gardens-players-0420-20140419_1_baseball-duo-pavin-smith-j-j-schwarz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510171413/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2014-04-19/sports/fl-baseball-gardens-players-0420-20140419_1_baseball-duo-pavin-smith-j-j-schwarz |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 10, 2017 |title=Pressure meets Gardens baseball duo heading into playoffs|work=Sun Sentinel |date=April 19, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2017}} As a pitcher, he had a 5–0 win–loss record with a 0.66 earned run average and 54 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched.{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Steve |date=June 9, 2024 |title=For one inning, Pavin Smith travels the path not taken |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pavin-smith-mops-up-as-pitcher-vs-padres |access-date=March 11, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} The Colorado Rockies selected him in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB draft, but he did not sign.{{cite web|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/baseball/county-top-prospects-drafted-opt-for-college/i9c0CbozfimETdLei6K5SL/ |title=County's top prospects drafted, opt for college |work=The Palm Beach Post |date=June 7, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2017}}{{cite web|last=Ramspacher |first=Andrew |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/cavalierinsider/talented-cavalier-freshmen-face-early-expectations/article_4b4bce5a-500a-11e4-b425-0017a43b2370.html |title=Talented Cavalier freshmen face early expectations | Cavalier Insider |work=Daily Progress |date=October 9, 2014 |access-date=May 31, 2017}}
Smith enrolled at the University of Virginia to play college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers. He played the 2015 season with an ulnar collateral ligament injury of the elbow, which prevented him from pitching. Smith had the game-winning hit in the second game of the 2015 College World Series against Vanderbilt.{{cite web |date=June 24, 2015 |title=When the lights were brightest, Virginia's stars shined at the College World Series |url=http://www.omaha.com/sports/cws/when-the-lights-were-brightest-virginia-s-stars-shined-at/article_f9b71a67-d9f3-5bdf-b478-9bb40e74a3e4.html |access-date=May 31, 2017 |work=Omaha World Herald}} Smith underwent Tommy John surgery after Virginia won the College World Series, and he returned to play in 2016.{{cite web|last=Doughty |first=Doug |url=http://www.roanoke.com/sports/uva/virginia-s-pavin-smith-continues-to-improve-as-a-power/article_5491608f-6ca5-56dc-9f48-4146c5ab80d4.html |title=Virginia's Pavin Smith continues to improve as a power hitter on the baseball field | UVa Sports News |work=The Roanoke Times |date=May 24, 2017 |access-date=May 31, 2017}} He hit eight home runs as a sophomore. After the 2016 season, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=898111 |title=#24 Pavin Smith - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=May 6, 2020}} In 2017, his junior year, Smith batted .342 with 13 home runs and 12 strikeouts.
Professional career
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Smith with the seventh overall selection of the 2017 MLB draft.{{cite web|last=Gilbert |first=Steve |url=http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/235996600/d-backs-take-pavin-smith-with-no-7-draft-pick/?topicId=27118138 |title=D-backs take Pavin Smith with No. 7 Draft pick |publisher=Major League Baseball |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=June 25, 2017}} Smith signed with the Diamondbacks, receiving a $5 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2017/06/21/arizona-diamondbacks-sign-first-round-pick-pavin-smith/416453001/ |title=Arizona Diamondbacks sign first-round pick Pavin Smith |work=The Arizona Republic |date=June 21, 2017 |access-date=June 25, 2017}}
Smith made his professional debut with the Hillsboro Hops of the Low-A Northwest League{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/d-backs-first-round-pick-pavin-smith-posts-first-three-hit-game-238648124 |title=Hops' Smith collects first three hits as a pro |publisher=Minor League Baseball |access-date=June 25, 2017}} and spent the rest of 2017, posting a .318 batting average with 27 runs batted in (RBIs) over 51 games.{{cite web |title=Pavin Smith Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats |url=https://www.milb.com/player/pavin-smith-656976 |access-date=December 19, 2017 |website=Minor League Baseball}} He was named a postseason All-Star.{{cite web|last=Jackson |first=Josh |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-264015410 |title=D-backs' Smith gives big Christmas surprise |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=December 26, 2017 |access-date=September 11, 2020}} Smith played for the Visalia Rawhide of the High-A California League in 2018,{{cite web |title=Visalia Rawhide 2018 Season Preview |url=https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/sports/2018/04/04/visalia-rawhide-2018-season-preview/455038002/ |access-date=July 8, 2018 |website=Visalia Times Delta}} where he hit .255 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs over 120 games. After the 2018 season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web |last=Callis |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Callis |date=November 16, 2018 |title=Top MVP candidates to collide in AFL championship |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/hiura-nevin-to-play-in-afl-championship/c-300825434 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=Mlb.com}} Smith spent 2019 with the Jackson Generals of the Double-A Southern League.{{cite web |last=McDermott |first=Michael |date=April 4, 2019 |title=2019 Arizona Diamondbacks Farm System Preview |url=https://www.azsnakepit.com/2019/4/4/18286553/2019-arizona-diamondbacks-farm-system-preview |access-date=September 11, 2020 |website=AZ Snake Pit}} Over 123 games, he slashed .291/.370/.466 with 12 home runs and 67 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2020/02/19/arizona-diamondbacks-pavin-smith-emerging-mlb-option-2017-draft/4813224002/ |title=Pavin Smith emerging as big-league option for Arizona Diamondbacks |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=February 19, 2020 |access-date=September 11, 2020}}
On September 10, 2020, the Diamondbacks selected Smith's contract to the 40-man and active roster.{{cite web |author=Byrne |first=Connor |title=Diamondbacks Designate Jake Lamb |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/diamondbacks-designate-jake-lamb.html |access-date=September 11, 2020 |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors}} He made his major league debut on September 12 against the Seattle Mariners and notched his first hit off Yoshihisa Hirano.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/baseball-mlb-ari-sea-idUSMTZXEG9DKUBDKD|title = France does deep again as Mariners dump D-backs|newspaper = Reuters|date = September 13, 2020}} On September 25, Smith hit his first major league home run off A. J. Ramos of the Colorado Rockies.{{Cite web |date=September 25, 2020 |title=Rockies get swept in the desert |url=https://www.purplerow.com/2020/9/25/21456894/rockies-get-swept-in-the-desert |website=Purple Row |publisher=SB Nation}}
Smith played in 145 games for the Diamondbacks in 2021, hitting .267/.328/.404 with career highs in home runs (11) and RBI (49). In 2022, Smith made 75 appearances for Arizona and hit .220/.300/.367 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs.{{Cite web |title=Pavin Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithpa04.shtml |access-date=March 10, 2025 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Smith was optioned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2023 season.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Optioned to Reno|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-pavin-smith-optioned-to-reno/amp/|access-date=March 26, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He returned to the Diamondbacks on April 9,{{Cite web |title=Pavin Smith's RBI double {{!}} September 4, 2023 |url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/video/michael-grove-in-play-run-s-to-pavin-smith |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} after Kyle Lewis was placed on the injured list.{{Cite web |title=Diamondbacks Place Kyle Lewis On IL, Recall Pavin Smith |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/04/diamondbacks-place-kyle-lewis-on-il-recall-pavin-smith.html |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} In 69 games for Arizona, he hit .188/.317/.325 with seven home runs and 30 RBI.
Smith was again optioned to Triple-A Reno to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks release Elvis Andrus; Andrew Saalfrank, Pavin Smith optioned to Triple-A Reno|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3544823/diamondbacks-release-elvis-andrus-andrew-saalfrank-pavin-smith-optioned-to-triple-a-reno/|access-date=March 22, 2024|website=arizonasports.com|language=en}} He hit three home runs against the Houston Astros on September 8.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pavin-smith-tallies-three-homers-eight-rbis-vs-astros|title=Smith stuns Astros with 3 homers, 8 RBIs ... in first 3 at-bats|website=MLB.com}}
Personal life
Smith's father is a sports agent who once had the golfer Corey Pavin as a client. Smith is named after the golfer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2018/12/23/arizona-diamondbacks-pavin-smiths-gift-parents-continues-impact/2393629002/|title=Diamondbacks prospect Pavin Smith’s generous act for parents ‘gift that keeps on giving’|first=Nick|last=Piecoro|website=The Arizona Republic}} As a Christmas present in 2017, Smith paid off his parents' mortgage.
Smith is married to former University of Florida gymnast Amanda Cheney.{{Cite web |title=Amanda Cheney - Gymnastics |url=https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/roster/amanda-cheney/11265 |access-date=September 19, 2021 |website=Florida Gators}} They have one daughter.{{Cite web |title=Pavin Smith Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/pavin-smith-656976 |access-date=March 11, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=656976|espn=40767|br=s/smithpa04|fangraphs=19892|brm=smith-000pav|retro=S/Psmitp002}}
{{Arizona Diamondbacks roster navbox}}
{{2015 Virginia Cavaliers baseball}}
{{2017 MLB Draft}}
{{Arizona Diamondbacks first-round draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Pavin}}
Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players
Category:Baseball players from Palm Beach County, Florida
Category:Harwich Mariners players
Category:Hillsboro Hops players
Category:Jackson Generals (Southern League) players
Category:Major League Baseball first basemen
Category:Salt River Rafters players
Category:Sportspeople from Jupiter, Florida
Category:Tigres del Licey players