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Ideally, as famous in an article yesterday about Dominic Smith signing on with the Nationals on a one-year/$2M deal in D.C., Washington’s skipper Davey Martinez advised reporters earlier this winter it could most likely work finest to have Joey Meneses enjoying first base and DHing on days he didn’t play the sphere in 2023. So of their seek for a bat who might add pop to the Nats’ lineup, a left fielder made sense.
“If we might discover somebody who might probably play first base and play some left subject, that may be nice,” he mentioned.
The signing of Smith, “all the time a strong defensive first baseman,” as MLB.com Mets beat author Anthony DiComo famous this winter, who was pushed to left subject in NY by Pete Alonso’s rise with the Mets, raised questions on the place the Nats deliberate to play the 27-year-old, 2013 1st Spherical decide.
Smith seemingly cleared a few of that up when he spoke with reporters on Wednesday and mentioned the Nationals signed him to play first base every single day in 2023, a possibility he’s been hoping for over the previous few years.
Dominic Smith went practically two full months between this homer and his final one on 4/13. Needed to really feel good normally, nevertheless it needed to really feel somewhat further good as a result of that child wasn’t an inexpensive one. #Mets #LGM (by way of @Mets) pic.twitter.com/5Y2tox4mBd
— Matt Musico (@mmusico8) June 2, 2021
He break up time between first base (187 video games) and left subject (182) within the majors in New York, however within the minors, he performed 565 of 679 profession video games at first base, and within the large leagues, he’s statistically been a much better defender at first (-3 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in 1,152 innings within the majors) versus -11 DRS in left subject (in 859+ innings).
Smith has struggled on the plate within the majors, with a .294/.361/.429 line in 679 video games and a couple of,895 in his minor league profession, however only a .246/.308/.424 line in 443 video games and 1,373 PAs within the large leagues, however advised reporters final evening he thought a possibility to play first base once more, and his consolation there, might assist him out on the plate too.
“I believe for me, I haven’t had this since my final 12 months, full season within the minor leagues,” Smith mentioned of the chance to play first base every single day, “and I believe — you don’t need to say that it form of impacts your play, however I believe after I’m at first base, I’m capable of simply be snug, be relaxed and clearly showcase my expertise over there, and never have to fret about doing an excessive amount of or the place my positioning is and whatnot.
“So I believe it can assist me have a transparent head on the plate, and I’m simply excited to have that once more.”
When he spoke with the Nats earlier than signing, the membership shared their plan, and what they need from the left-handed hitting veteran, which incorporates serving to some youthful members of the Nats’ roster regulate to the large league recreation.
“They need me to come back in and play first base, however clearly simply share my information of the sport,” he defined, “ … assist these youthful guys form of skip a few of these pace bumps that I had in my profession. So I believe that I can are available in, I get to share my information and simply maintain growing in my profession as properly. I’m simply excited for the chance to maintain going out and showcasing my expertise, my capability, and what I can do on the market.”
It helps, he mentioned, to affix a group he is aware of properly, having performed in opposition to the Nationals over time within the majors, and in opposition to their associates within the minors as he labored his method as much as the large leagues.
“Taking part in in opposition to them just about my entire profession, seeing them in Spring Coaching my entire profession, I’m seeing what they did in 2019, and speaking it over with [manager] Davey [Martinez] and seeing simply the strikes they made during the last 12 months, and having [Martinez] and [GM Mike Rizzo] speak to me and actually attain out and let me know my plan, what they form of anticipate from me, and for my part I felt like there was a possibility for me to form of assist this younger core group of men form of develop within the large leagues and simply form of have that contemporary begin in my profession to go play every single day and assist the Nationals win as many video games as I can.”
The contemporary begin in his profession is large, particularly for a participant who was the eleventh general decide within the ‘13 Draft and No. 2 prospect in New York’s system, in keeping with Baseball America, earlier than he made his MLB debut in 2017.
“I believe any time a man can get a contemporary begin it may be an thrilling time,” Smith mentioned.
“I’m excited for it, like I mentioned, the possibility to exit and play every single day, that’s all I’ve ever wished in my profession, and like I mentioned, I haven’t had it,” he added, however he additionally is aware of they received’t simply hand him the job, he’ll should earn the chance.
“I’m not asking them to present me something however simply the possibility to go and show that. So I’m very excited they need me to exit and compete and assist this group get again what they have been in 2019.”
Smith continues to be comparatively younger, and within the nation’s capital this 12 months, he’ll possible get a shot to point out what he can do with constant reps at first and common at-bats.
“I nonetheless really feel like — I’m 27 years previous, so I really feel like I’ve rather a lot to present to this recreation of baseball simply normally,” he mentioned.
“I haven’t even actually had the possibility to showcase what I can on an on a regular basis foundation, so I’m excited to do this, and clearly to do it with the Nationals, with this younger core group of men, I believe we will do some issues this 12 months, so I’m simply excited for the chance.”
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