Marquez Smith

Marquez Jamal Smith

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 205 lb.
• School Daytona Beach Community College, Clemson University
• High School Forest High School
• Born March 20, 1985 in Panama City, FL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Marquez Smith was drafted four times before embarking on a long minor league career.

He was first taken by the Minnesota Twins in the 36th round of the 2003 amateur draft, one pick ahead of pitcher Logan Ondrusek. In 2004, the Anaheim Angels took him in the 46th round. The Chicago Cubs then tried their hand, selecting him in the 35th round of the 2006 amateur draft. He did not sign until the Cubs took him again in 2007, this time in the 8th round. Scout Antonio Grissom signed him.

Initially relatively old for the minor league levels he played at, the slugger showed his prowess early. In 2008, he hit 17 home runs with 66 RBI between two teams, later playing for the Waikiki Beach Boys in the Hawaii Winter League. He slugged .457 with 15 home runs and 67 RBI in 2009 and hit .297/.371/.556 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI in 107 games in 2010. He reached Triple A for the first time that year, batting .314/.384/.574 in 91 games at that level. He slumped in 2011 and for 2012 was granted free agency.

He played in Mexico, the independent leagues and indy ball in 2012, hitting 12 home runs with 63 RBI between them; in 23 games with the independent Camden Riversharks, he slashed .363/.422/.593.

The Cincinnati Reds took him in the Triple A round of the 2012 Rule V Draft. He performed well in his first two years in their system, albeit as someone much older than his respective levels' average player. Between High A and Double A, he had 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 70 games. He hit .311/.424/.601 with 30 home runs and 131 RBI in 134 games between two stops in 2014 -- granted, most of the year was spent at the High A level, where the 29-year-old was over five years older than the average player. He added 10 home runs and 36 RBI with the Charros de Jalisco in Mexico over the winter, bringing his year totals to 41 home runs, 167 RBI, 127 runs scored and 42 doubles in 696 at-bats. He could not replicate his success in 2015, hitting just eight regular season home runs, and in 2016 he played in the Mexican League.

Smith was a MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2010, 2014 and 2015, a Post-Season All-Star in 2014 and the Hawaii Winter League Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.