Pavin Smith

Smith has spent significant portions of the last two seasons in the minors - his 158 MLB plate appearances in 2024 were the fewest since 2020 - but has an opportunity for a larger role in 2025. First baseman Christian Walker, DH Joc Pederson and utility infielder Randal Grichuk all are testing free agency. The lefty-hitting Smith is coming off an encouraging season, posting a career-high in slugging (.547), hard-hit rate (44.0 percent) and barrel rate (14.7), while going deep a combined 22 times between Triple A and the majors. Smith was helpful down the stretch, when he posted a 1.061 OPS with six homers in 62 September at-bats. Smith's bat hasn't profiled at 1B/RF/DH during his career, but the small sample-size numbers in 2024 paint a different picture. Depending on what Arizona does with Walker/Pederson, Smith could play a larger role at first base or as the primary DH against right-handers. Read Past Outlooks