August has been very kind to the 11th overall selection from the 2013 MLB Draft, with Smith slashing .398/.481/.580 over 24 contests and 88 plate appearances this month, continuing an upward trend in both power and on-base production that has spanned the entirety of his pro development. Through two series this past week Smith knocked around the Hartford and Bowie staffs to the tune of a .476/.538/.762 slash line over 26 plate appearances, including three doubles and a home run to go with four walks against just one strikeout.

Smith covers the plate well and shows an ability to use the whole field thanks to a fluid and balanced swing that plays across the quadrants. He continues to show solid strike zone awareness and pitch ID skills, helping the lefty effectively work the count for pitches to drive – something he has excelled at particularly as of late.

While Smith’s power production has been a frequent target of skepticism amongst stat-line prognosticators, the SoCal native has flaunted plus raw power dating bat to his impressive display in the Metrodome during the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase workouts. After focused development on refining his approach at the pro ranks, Smith is now seeing that raw power manifest with more frequency in-game, to the point he projects as a 20-plus home run bat at maturity.

While the profile skews heavy to his offensive game thanks to well below-average foot speed, Smith is an elite picker at first and above-average defender overall. He’s a first-division regular in the making, and he could eventually emerge as an impact talent if he is able to fully tap into his raw power in-game.