Sean Smith

Sean Smith - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 24 Height: 6'4" Weight: 195 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Buffalo	9	7	4.25	24	21	0	133.3	130	63	16	58	90	3.92	6.08	1.41
Career	44	30	3.82	133	122	2	669.3	605	284	65	291	513	3.91	6.90	1.34

History: Smith was selected by the Indians in the 16^th round of the 2001 Draft out of Sacramento City JC. One of Smith's best attributes is how consistent he has been during his six years in the Indians system. He has a career minor league ERA of 3.82, and to show how consistent he has been he never has had an ERA below 3.24 and never higher than 4.25.

Strengths & Opportunities: Smith is a highly touted draft-and-follow player who always has had the talent, but a bunch of minor injuries early in his minor league career held him back. Finally healthy the past two seasons, Smith was able to put up two good seasons in a row and has grown by leaps and bounds. After he was disappointed to start the 2006 season in Kinston, his third straight year there, he refocused and put forth an excellent effort. Smith seemed to pick up steam when he was moved up to Akron later that season, and finished the year in Akron going 10-5 with a 3.88 ERA in 25 starts.

Smith does not have electric stuff, but has learned that he has to attack hitters by getting ahead of them in the count and to be aggressive by pitching to contact. His fastball consistently checks in at 88-91 MPH, and he also throws a 12-6 curveball, slider and changeup. He has had command problems in the past, but his emergence the past two years was tied to more efficient use of his pitches, increased velocity in his fastball, and pitching with a lot of confidence.

At one point early in the season last year at Buffalo, Smith had a streak of 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings, and his ERA ranked near the leaders in the International League. But, he seemed to wear down late in the year as he put up a 4.81 ERA after the All Star break compared to the 3.93 ERA he had before the All Star break. Smith gives up a lot of home runs, and is a fly ball pitcher (0.75 G/F ratio in 2007 and 0.85 G/F ratio in 2006). He also needs to work on his walk-rate (3.92 BB/9 last year), and is something that should be further along at his advanced age.

Outlook: Smith went on the disabled list late in the season with shoulder fatigue and missed the last few weeks of the season, but he reportedly is 100% healthy now. At this point, Smith is starting pitching depth at the Triple-A level for the Indians, and potentially trade bait to teams looking for young pitching to round out their major league starting rotation. Smith could end up along the same lines of Brian Slocum based on pure stuff, and might be a middle reliever or a swing guy as long as he remains in the Indians farm system. Smith will return to Buffalo in 2008.

Posted in: Sean Smith