Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

After making three scoreless relief appearances at the 2021 College World Series as a freshman to help Mississippi State win its first national title, Smith served as the Bulldogs' top starter the next two seasons. He missed a month early in his Draft year in 2023 with illness and a slight forearm strain but returned to finish strong before the Yankees selected him in the sixth round. He compiled a 3.65 ERA, .187 average-against and 31 percent strikeout rate in his pro debut last summer, mostly at Single-A, before getting shut down for the final three weeks with mild shoulder soreness.

Smith's best attribute is his ability to spin the ball, which produces a plus mid-80s slider with two-plane depth and a solid low-80s curveball with similar depth. He also generates high spin rates on his fastball, which operates at 92-94 mph and touches 96 with carry but is also fairly straight and can get pounded when he doesn't command it. He doesn't have much trust in his mid-80s changeup with mild fade and doesn't throw it for strikes.

While Smith is a bit smaller than a typical starter, he has a quick arm and a relatively clean delivery. He relies on chases more than landing his pitches in the zone, so he'll need to learn to command his fastball and control his breaking balls as he rises through the Minors. He has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter and a sturdy floor as a multi-inning reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Smith made three scoreless relief appearances at the 2021 College World Series as freshman to help Mississippi State win its first-ever national title, then became the Bulldogs' top starter the next two years. He missed a month early last spring with an undisclosed injury but finished strong before the Yankees drafted him in the sixth round. They've excelled at finding and polishing pitchers in the fifth round or later in recent years, and he could follow in the tradition of Ken Waldichuk, Hayden Wesneski, Richard Fitts, Will Warren and Chase Hampton.

Smith's best pitch is an 83-85 mph slider that grades as plus with two-plane depth when it's on. His four-seam fastball sits at 92-94 mph and tops out at 97 with quality riding life that allows it to play better than its velocity when he commands it up in the zone. He can steal some strikes with a decent 78-82 mph curveball but his mid-80s changeup with mild fade needs a lot of work.

With his quick arm and relatively clean delivery, Smith is equipped to throw consistent strikes. But he doesn't always locate his fastball where he wants and struggles to land his slider and changeup in the zone, which could make him more of a multi-inning reliever than a starter. He'll pitch out of the rotation when he makes his pro debut in 2024.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40 

The Yankees have excelled at finding and developing pitchers in the fifth round or later of recent Drafts, including Ken Waldichuk, Hayden Wesneski, Richard Fitts, Will Warren and Chase Hampton. A 2023 sixth-rounder from Mississippi State, Smith fits the same mold. He contributed three scoreless appearances at the College World Series to the Bulldogs' national championship run in 2021 as a freshman before moving into the rotation the next two seasons. 

Smith's four-seam fastball operates at 92-94 mph, tops out at 97 and features plus riding action that allows it to play better than its velocity when he locates it up in the strike zone. His 83-85 mph slider can be a plus pitch with two-plane depth at its best. He lands a decent 78-82 mph curveball for strikes and has a mid-80s changeup with mild fade that lags behind the rest of his repertoire. 

Though Smith has a quick arm and a relatively clean delivery, he has yet to produce consistent strikes. He locates his fastball well enough but struggles to find the zone with his slider and changeup. He has the upside of a No. 4 starter and could wind up as more of a two-pitch, multi-inning reliever.

Awards

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2025

FSL Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
07/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	11/08/2025	American League Fall Stars activated RHP Cade Smith.
	09/10/2025	RHP Cade Smith assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	07/24/2025	Hudson Valley Renegades activated RHP Cade Smith from the 7-day injured list.
	07/20/2025	Hudson Valley Renegades sent RHP Cade Smith on a rehab assignment to Tampa Tarpons.
	07/07/2025	Hudson Valley Renegades sent RHP Cade Smith on a rehab assignment to FCL Yankees.
	04/04/2025	Hudson Valley Renegades placed RHP Cade Smith on the 7-day injured list.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP Cade Smith.
	11/03/2024	Hudson Valley Renegades activated RHP Cade Smith from the 60-day injured list.
	11/03/2024	Hudson Valley Renegades activated RHP Cade Smith from the 60-day injured list.
	08/26/2024	Hudson Valley Renegades transferred RHP Cade Smith from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	08/22/2024	Hudson Valley Renegades placed RHP Cade Smith on the 7-day injured list.
	08/06/2024	RHP Cade Smith assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades from Tampa Tarpons.
	04/03/2024	RHP Cade Smith assigned to Tampa Tarpons from FCL Yankees.
	03/15/2024	RHP Cade Smith assigned to New York Yankees Prospects.
	02/25/2024	RHP Cade Smith assigned to New York Yankees.
	07/29/2023	RHP Cade Smith assigned to FCL Yankees.
	07/18/2023	New York Yankees signed RHP Cade Smith.
	06/14/2023	RHP Cade Smith assigned to College Workout.
	02/01/2021	RHP Cade Smith assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.
	02/01/2021	RHP Cade Smith assigned to Mississippi State Bulldogs.