Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

The best pure hitter in the Texas high school ranks, Smith performed well at the Area Code Games and struck out just once in his first 20 games this spring. His bat could get him selected in the first three rounds, and if he doesn't turn pro, he'll play at Mississippi State and be Draft-eligible again as a sophomore in 2025. 

Smith works with Trevor Story's hitting coach and has developed an advanced approach at the plate. He has good balance, takes a small stride and focuses on making hard contact from gap to gap with a quick right-handed stroke. He possesses a hit-over-power mentality but has the bat speed and strength to provide 20 homers per season. 

There's more to like beyond Smith's bat. He has an athletic 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame that can add more strength, and he's a plus runner with arm strength to match. He has a chance to remain in center field and enough offensive potential and arm to profile in right should he move to a corner.

Scouting grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 60 | Overall: 50

Smith turned a big senior season at Lovejoy High School in Texas and an impressive showing at the 2023 MLB Draft Combine into a $1.2 million bonus as the Mariners’ fourth-round pick. Getting more than double the assigned slot value pulled Smith away from his commitment to Mississippi State, and he quickly proved himself to be a legitimate prospect at only 19 years old during his full-season debut with Seattle in 2024. That performance also captured the Rays’ attention, and at the time, they viewed him as the lead piece in their return for World Series hero Randy Arozarena at the ’24 Trade Deadline.

Smith showed a well-rounded skill-set in 2024, before and after the trade, hitting .288/.401/.473 with 41 stolen bases in 98 games at the Single-A level. But his offensive approach collapsed during his first full season with the Rays, and non-fastballs beat him up. Smith tried to sell out for more power but wound up striking out in 31.2 percent of his plate appearances, batting just .237 and seeing his doubles total drop from 33 to 14 in High-A. Some minor swing adjustments may help, but improvement is dependent mostly upon a return to his controlled, gap-to-gap approach, because Smith still has the tools to be an impact player at the plate.

Last season wasn’t a lost year for Smith, though, because he answered every question about his defensive future. There were some questions about his ability in Seattle, where he spent as much time in the corners while the organization prioritized other players, but he’s now viewed as an excellent defender in center with a strong arm to match. He uses his plus speed well, runs clean routes, works well around the wall and got better at closing plays in 2025. Combine his defensive value with his aggressive, successful basestealing and his bounce-back potential at the plate, and there’s still plenty of upside here.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Smith had a big senior season at Lovejoy High School in Texas and backed that up with an impressive performance at the MLB Draft Combine in 2023, smashing some balls upwards of 100 mph and 400 feet. The Mariners liked what they saw enough to take him in the fourth round and sign the Mississippi State commit for a $1.2 million bonus, more than double the slot value. He was off to a strong full-season debut at only 19 years old when the Mariners dealt him to the Rays, who viewed him as the lead piece in their return for Randy Arozarena.

Smith doesn’t necessarily have a standout tool at this point, but there are some in Tampa Bay’s organization who believe he could already be the best prospect in the system. He does everything well, albeit nothing to an off-the-charts degree. He’s a natural athlete, listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He shows good balance and a controlled stride at the plate but has struggled against non-fastballs in 2025. He added a good amount of strength in his first offseason in the Tampa Bay system, impressing evaluators across the system, and he could be ready to turn some of his doubles (33 over 97 games in 2024) into homers in his age-20 season and beyond.

There are some questions about his defense in center field, as Seattle had him spend a roughly equal amount of time in the corners to prioritize other players, but he has a plus arm and plenty of speed to handle the position. The Rays have let him spend most of his time in center in his first full season with the organization. They have a strong track record when it comes to acquiring high-upside prospects, and although there have been bumps in 2025, Smith's high ceiling remains.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Smith was touted by some scouts as holding a place among the best pure hitters in the realm of talent-rich Texas high school players, particularly after a big senior season and a solid performance at the MLB Draft Combine in 2023, where he rocketed a few balls beyond 100 mph and 400 feet. It was enough for the Mariners to take him in the fourth round and pry him away from his commitment to Mississippi State with a $1.2 million bonus, more than double slot value. He was off to a solid start at Single-A Modesto in 2024 when the M’s moved him to the Rays in a deal involving Randy Arozarena.

Given the three high-upside high school hitters Seattle selected with its first three picks, Smith flew more under the radar, but he has many likable tools that could keep pace with that group. With good balance and a small stride, he optimizes his contact and consistently drives the ball to his pullside. Some within the Seattle organization pointed to his mental acuity as an avid golfer translating to his approach at the plate, though he sometimes struggled with high fastballs in the California League. He showed flashes of being an above-average hitter as an amateur, and while he has just solid power now, some of his present doubles could turn into future homers in his 20s.

With an athletic 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame that can add more strength along with strong wheels to go with a plus arm, there’s a good chance he can stick in center field, giving him a solid floor. Moving out of the hitter-friendly California League will test how the rest of his profile holds up in the Rays system.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Many thought Smith was the best pure hitter in the Texas high school ranks for the 2023 Draft, and he backed that up with strong performances at showcases like the Area Code Games last summer. A big senior season landed him in top-three-round conversations. He ended up going in the fourth, though the Mariners more than doubled the slot value for the pick to sign him away from his commitment to Mississippi State for $1.2 million.

Smith has worked with Trevor Story's hitting coach and has developed an advanced approach at the plate. He has good balance, takes a small stride and focuses on making hard contact from gap to gap with a quick right-handed stroke. He possesses a hit-over-power mentality but has the bat speed and strength to provide 20 homers per season. 

There's more to like beyond Smith's bat. He has an athletic 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame that can add more strength, and he's a plus runner with arm strength to match. He has a chance to remain in center field and enough offensive potential and arm to profile in right should he move to a corner, and the Mariners were very pleased at the early returns as he began his pro career.

Awards

SAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
08/31/2025

Baseball America Low Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

CAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/30/2024
05/26/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/10/2025	OF Aidan Smith assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	03/06/2025	activated OF Aidan Smith.
	03/03/2025	OF Aidan Smith assigned to Tampa Bay Rays.
	09/15/2024	OF Aidan Smith assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods from Charleston RiverDogs.
	08/08/2024	Charleston RiverDogs activated OF Aidan Smith.
	07/26/2024	Tampa Bay Rays traded CF Randy Arozarena to Seattle Mariners for RHP Brody Hopkins, OF Aidan Smith and Player To Be Named Later.
	07/26/2024	OF Aidan Smith assigned to Charleston RiverDogs.
	07/25/2024	OF Aidan Smith roster status changed by Modesto Nuts.
	03/07/2024	Seattle Mariners Prospects activated OF Aidan Smith.
	03/01/2024	OF Aidan Smith assigned to Seattle Mariners.
	09/22/2023	Modesto Nuts activated OF Aidan Smith from the 7-day injured list.
	09/14/2023	Modesto Nuts placed OF Aidan Smith on the 7-day injured list.
	08/23/2023	OF Aidan Smith assigned to Modesto Nuts from ACL Mariners.
	07/26/2023	OF Aidan Smith assigned to ACL Mariners.
	07/18/2023	Seattle Mariners signed OF Aidan Smith.
	06/14/2023	OF Aidan Smith assigned to College Workout.
	07/18/2022	OF Aidan Smith and assigned to High School Workout.