Smith hit a solo home run and walked over two plate appearances in Friday's spring game against Cincinnati.
The Diamondbacks fielded what looked like a potential regular-season lineup Friday, but the lefty-hitting Smith did not start against a right-hander. Instead, manager Torey Lovullo had Jake McCarthy at designated hitter while Alek Thomas was in center field. To this point in spring training, it's widely been assumed that Smith would be the lefty component at DH against right-handers, and that McCarthy and Thomas were in a battle to start in center field. That still may be the case, and no conclusions should be drawn from this one spring contest. Smith has homered in two consecutive Cactus League games and is batting .259/.375/.856 through 32 plate appearances.
Smith is expected to serve as left-handed bat in a platoon at designated hitter this season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Smith will fill the role occupied by Joc Pederson last season. With Pederson moving on in free agency, Smith is a logical choice to face righties, against whom he posted a .920 OPS over 135 plate appearances last season. He's bounced between the majors and minors the last few seasons, but Smith's second-half surge in 2024 reaffirmed manager Torey Lovullo's oft-stated belief that he can hit. The 29-year-old described a change in his mental approach, noting he was "not trying to beat the ball to spots," which translates to not trying to do too much with a pitch. Smith is not expected to see much time in the outfield but could get some opportunities at first base, where his defense is passable. His primary role, however, will be that of a strongside platoon at DH.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Settles with Arizona
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Smith signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Smith's salary will more than double in 2025 after he slashed .270/.348/.547 with nine homers and 36 RBI over 158 plate appearances last season. With Joc Pederson now in Texas, Smith is likely to step in as Arizona's primary DH against right-handed starters, with occasional appearances at first base or in the outfield also possible.
Smith started in right field, went 0-for-4 and couldn't track down a couple of flyballs in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Padres.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo went with Smith's offensive potential -- he had six homers and a .310 batting average in September coming into the game -- over Jake McCarthy, a better defender with more range. The move backfired immediately when Smith couldn't track down leadoff batter Luis Arraez's flyball, opening the door to San Diego's four-run first inning. Smith later couldn't track down another fly from Arraez in the fourth that turned into a triple and the Padres' fifth run. The loss left the Diamondbacks outside the final wild-card spot with two games left and could lead to McCarthy replacing Smith on Saturday.
Smith went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit three-run home run in Wednesday's win over the Giants.
Smith didn't enter the game until the bottom of the eighth when he was brought in to pinch hit for Randal Grichuk with two runners on. The outfielder then came through in a big way, launching a three-run home run off Spencer Bivens on the third pitch he saw to extend Arizona's lead to six runs. The long ball was Smith's ninth on the campaign and his sixth in the month of September, where he's batting .310 with 12 extra-base hits, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Losing work to Gurriel
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Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Giants.
On the bench for a second straight matchup with a right-handed pitcher, Smith looks to have moved back into a reserve role after having occupied a strong-side platoon role in left field for much of the previous two weeks. Smith's playing time will likely be more sparse moving forward now that top left fielder Lourdes Gurriel is healthy again after missing time with a calf strain.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Remains in lineup
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Smith started in right field and went 1-for-5 in Friday's 7-4 win over the Brewers.
Friday's game featured the return of Lourdes Gurriel from the 10-day injured list, which will cost someone at-bats. That someone was Jake McCarthy on Friday while Smith remained in the lineup. Smith, who's been a more productive hitter than McCarthy of late, hit safely for a seventh straight contest and is 10-for-24 with six extra-base hits, five RBI and five runs over that stretch.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Goes deep in victory
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Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 5-1 win against the Brewers.
Smith capped the scoring in the contest with a two-run shot in the eighth inning. The long ball was his first since he went deep three times against the Astros on Sept. 8. He's been hitting well of late, though, compiling a six-game hitting streak during which he's batting .474 (9-for-19) with four doubles, five runs and five RBI. His path to regular at-bats will take a hit when Lourdes Gurriel returns from a calf injury, which could happen this weekend.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: On base three times
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Smith went 1-for-2 with two walks in Monday's 3-2 loss to Colorado.
Smith has been a regular in left field against right-handers since Lourdes Gurriel (calf) landed on the injured list. The lefty-hitting Smith is 10-for-25 with four home runs, 14 RBI, eight runs and a .484 on-base percentage over 10 games since replacing Gurriel, who has been taking at-bats at the Diamondbacks' camp and could rejoin the club later this week.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Rattles off three hits
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Smith went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in Saturday's 15-8 loss to the Brewers.
Smith was one of five Diamondbacks to post multiple hits in the blowout loss. He has a pair of three-hit efforts over his last five games, though Smith remains in a strong-side platoon role despite his recent success at the plate. For the year, the 28-year-old has a .280/.348/.550 slash line with seven home runs, 28 RBI, 21 runs scored and one stolen base over 115 plate appearances. Smith could see his role reduced once again whenever Lourdes Gurriel (calf) is ready to return.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Doubles, delivers run in win
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Smith started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Rangers.
Smith followed up his three-homer game Sunday with a more pedestrian outing Tuesday. He's been the primary left fielder against right-handers while Lourdes Gurriel tends to a calf injury. Gurriel began hitting Tuesday, is scheduled to run Thursday and the club is hopeful for a return after the minimum 10-day stay on the injured list. That means Smith's starting opportunity could be coming to a close this weekend.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sitting against southpaw
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Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
Though he's settled into the large side of a platoon in left field following Lourdes Gurriel's (calf) move to the injured list, the lefty-hitting Smith will take a seat Wednesday against Rangers southpaw Cody Bradford. Platoon mate Randal Grichuk will step in for Smith.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Historic offensive day
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Smith went 3-for-4 with three home runs, a walk and eight RBI in Sunday's win over the Astros.
Smith had seven RBI by the third inning after he took Justin Verlander deep in the second for a three-run blast and then followed it up with a grand slam. He wasn't done there, as he then went deep off Kaleb Ort in the fifth, becoming the first Diamondbacks player with three homers in a game since 2017. Smith had a chance to complete the home run cycle after coming up to the plate in the seventh with a man on but wound up striking out. After Sunday's outburst Smith has tied his home run total from last season in 125 less plate appearances. He's slashing .270/.343/.562 with seven homers, 26 RBI, 18 runs, a steal and an 11:15 BB:K in 102 plate appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Homers, swipes bag in win
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Smith started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, a home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Giants.
Smith homered in the fifth inning for his fourth of the season and first since being called up in the middle of August. He also responded to the Giants scoring twice in the bottom of seventh by leading off the eighth with a walk, a stolen base and eventually scoring what turned out to be the winning run. It was his first steal in 2024. The injury to Lourdes Gurriel (calf, 10-day IL) has created a path to at-bats for Smith -- this was his second start since Gurriel landed on the injured list -- and he could be the regular fill-in when Arizona faces a right-hander while Gurriel is sidelined.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Fills in at left field
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Smith started in left field and went 1-for-4 in Monday's 11-6 loss to the Dodgers.
Smith got the start in left with Lourdes Gurriel (calf) unavailable. The Diamondbacks plan to have Gurriel undergo an MRI when one can be arranged, which could provide a clearer picture for his return to action. In the meantime, the Diamondbacks have Smith available for right-handers, Randal Grichuk for lefties and the switch-hitting Jorge Barrosa for pitchers of either hand.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Brought up from Triple-A
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The Diamondbacks recalled Smith from Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Smith has hit well for Arizona in 2024 when provided with opportunities, putting up an an .801 OPS with three home runs in 68 plate appearances. However, he would not appear in line for regular playing time during his upcoming stint in the majors.
