Mallex Smith

Mallex Lydell Smith

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.
• School Santa Fe Community College
• High School Rickards High School
• Debut April 11, 2016
• Final Game August 15, 2020
• Born May 6, 1993 in Tallahassee, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Mallex Smith began his professional career in 2012.

He was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 13th round of the 2011 amateur draft, but opted not to sign. He did sign after being taken by the San Diego Padres in the 5th round of the 2012 amateur draft.

Suiting up for the AZL Padres and Eugene Emeralds in 2012, the speedster hit .305/.366/.383 with 17 stolen bases in 35 games. He hit .262/.367/.340 with 64 stolen bases in 110 games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in 2013 and in 2014, he hit .310/.403/.432 with 88 stolen bases in 120 games between Fort Wayne and the Lake Elsinore Storm, earning a spot on the Midwest League All-Star team.

On December 19, 2014, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves with Max Fried, Jace Peterson and Dustin Peterson for OF Justin Upton. He split the 2015 season between the AA Mississippi Braves (56 games, .333) and AAA Gwinnett Braves (69 G, .281). Combined between the two, his batting line was .303/.371/.378 in 125 games, with 82 runs scored, 17 doubles, 8 triples, but only 1 homer. He also stole 56 bases while being caught 13 times.

He went to spring training with the Braves in 2016, but the team wanted to give him another season in the minor leagues even though it was in full rebuilding mode. Plans changed however when Ender Inciarte went down with a hamstring injury a week into the season and he was called up after only three games at Gwinnett. Mallex was inserted into the starting line-up against the Washington Nationals on April 11th, leading off and playing centerfield. He struck out against Max Scherzer to start the game, then hit an infield single in the 2nd and came in to score when Nick Markakis followed with a double. In the 4th, he forced out pitcher Bud Norris, then was caught in an attempt to steal second base. On the play, he was cut above the left eye when his helmet came off as he was sliding into the base and bounced back into his face. He had to leave the game to get five stitches while Drew Stubbs replaced him in center. He moved to left field after Inciarte came back from his injury at the end of April. He was batting .237 in 58 games when he suffered a fractured thumb in mid-June, putting him out of action for two months. He came back in mid-September and ended the year at .238 in 72 games, with 3 homers and 22 RBIs. On January 11, 2017, he was traded twice in one day, first going to the Seattle Mariners along with P Shae Simmons in return for two pitching prospects, Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows, and then being flipped to the Tampa Bay Rays with Carlos Vargas and Ryan Yarbrough for P Drew Smyly.

He was the Rays' opening day left fielder in 2017, starting against the New York Yankees on April 2nd. He went 1 for 4 that day, reaching base on a bunt hit and also making a few nice plays in the outfield. He was also the first player in Rays history to wear uniform number 0 that day. he was unable to keep a regular job, however, and ended up playing 81 games and hitting .270 with 2 homers and 12 RBIs, but 33 runs. In 2018, however, he had a breakout season, even though he was not the regular at any of the Rays' three outfield position. He played 141 games, led the American League in triples with 10, was second in stolen bases with 40, hit a solid .296 with 65 runs and 40 RBIs. His OPS+ was 115 as the Rays greatly exceeded expectations with 90 wins. Following the season, however, on November 8th, he was traded back to the Mariners, with Jake Fraley, in return for C Mike Zunino and OF Guillermo Heredia. Manager Scott Servais stated that he was looking at Mallex to be the Mariners' regular centerfielder in 2019.

Notable Achievements

• AL Triples Leader (2018)
• AL Stolen Bases Leader (2019)

Related Sites

• Mallex Smith on mlb.com
• BR Minors page