Riley Smith Scouting Report & Game Video

Dates Observed: June 29, 2018

Team/Organization: Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks)
League/Level: California League (High-A)
Scouting Notes: Tough-luck loser, pitched better than getting handed a loss after going seven strong with a walk and eight strikeouts against a good San Jose team; no-nonsense look again in this outing with fearless fastball/slider combo that challenged hitters and missed bats. Slider looked very good with late movement here, showed real depth to get off barrels; tied career high in strikeouts with slider as go-to pitch once ahead in the count … Fastball sat 90-93 in this outing; paired with 75 curveball (just threw it one time to LHH, scrapped it in favor of slider), 80-83 slider, and 82-84 changeup. Slightly slower to the plate with runner on first this time around (had him 1.34 - 1.43), but still controlled the running game well and allowed catcher Dominic Miroglio a shot to throw out a would-be base stealer in key situation … Altogether, another pretty good showing for Riley Smith; he continues to impress me as a possible back-end rotation arm at ceiling with real potential as a swingman/valuable middle reliever who can eat some innings in The Show. (Earlier game notes below.)

Game Video:

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Dates Observed: May 22, 2018

Team/Organization: Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks)
League/Level: California League (High-A)
Scouting Notes: High-three quarters release point with short arm action in the back; conventional mechanical look with repeatable, relatively low effort delivery and consistent release. Lacks ideal height, but OK physical size with some natural strength through core and lower half; may add a bit of weight as he ages, but more or less near final form now; repeatability and consistency of his delivery and mechanics give him a shot to stick as a rotation arm in the future … Fastball 91-94 here; paired it with an 80-83 slider, an 82-84 changeup, and a 75-77 curveball. Timed him 1.29 – 1.32 to the plate on fastest moves with runner on first base … No-nonsense guy who pushes the issue and attacks with the fastball; pitches off it primarily and goes to it heavily, even second and third time through the lineup deep into games. Will challenge hitters with it and doesn’t back down. Modest arm-side run to it, plus some downward plane when spotted down in the zone. Pairs well with the slider as a decent second offering; good tilt on the slider with consistent depth; throws it hard and arm action looks good; tough to pick up out of the hand and gives him a shot to get off barrels and pitch off the fastball with a second power offering, even though the slider isn’t really a wipeout pitch that’ll rack up strikeouts … Changeup and curveball were both a little further behind in my look; lacking consistency and good life down in the zone; definite secondary pitches to fastball/slider combo. Curveball in particular is a nice change of pace for velo, but lacks consistent depth at plate; must improve feel. If he develops one of these two, he’s got a real shot to stick in the rotation against better hitters … In all, Riley Smith doesn’t have too many wrinkles: he’s a strike thrower who will come after hitters with a decent fastball/slider combo, and he generally doesn’t let up. That two-pitch power look probably makes him a future bullpen candidate for the Diamondbacks, but I like him as a starter — at least for now — if he can develop a third pitch well enough to fall in as a back-end rotation arm at ceiling. Regardless, Riley Smith looks like a shrewd late-round selection who may pan out and see big league time.

Game Video:

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