Indians Top 100 Prospects: #58 Carlton Smith

58. Carlton Smith - Right-handed Pitcher
Born: 01/23/1986 - Height: 6'2" - Weight: 205 - Bats: Left - Throws: Right

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB/9	K/9	WHIP
2005	19	Burlington	R	0	2	4.77	9	9	0	28.1	30	15	3	5	25	1.6	7.9	1.24
2006	20	Lake County	A	3	3	4.09	11	11	0	55.0	49	25	4	24	38	3.9	6.2	1.33
2007	21	Lake County	A	11	6	4.22	31	18	0	121.2	125	57	13	33	79	2.4	5.8	1.30
2008	22	Kinston	A+	12	6	4.37	26	26	0	146.1	143	71	12	33	81	2.0	5.0	1.20
		Career		26	17	4.30	77	64	0	351.1	347	168	32	95	223	2.4	5.7	1.26

History: Smith was a 21^st round pick in the 2004 Draft out of Piscataway High School (NJ), and is also the younger brother of former Indians #1 prospect third baseman Corey Smith. His 12 wins in 2008 was tied for tops in the farm system.

Strengths & Opportunities: Smith pounds the zone and pitches to contact with his sinking fastball which hovers around 91-93 MPH and has topped out as high as 95 MPH. He complements the fastball with an above average slider, split-finger, and is still working on developing a changeup. He is quiet by nature and keeps to himself, and has an excellent work ethic that was instilled in him by his brother and father. Last year he showed signs of improvement with repeating his delivery, commanding the fastball, and throwing his secondary stuff consistently for strikes. He has gotten better mixing the speeds and eye level of his secondary stuff, which has set up his sinker well down in the zone.

Outlook: Smith will move up the minor league ladder in 2009 where he should be in the starting rotation at Double-A Akron.

Photo courtesy of Ken Carr

Carlton Smith MinorLeagueBaseball.com stats page

Carlton Smith Baseball-Reference page

Carlton Smith MinorLeagueSplits.com

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