Armani Smith, OF
DOB: July 19, 1988
BATS: R  /  THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: Drafted 7th Round (#206), 2019
LAST LEVEL: Short-A
VOLATILITY: Medium

Lev
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
CS
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
OPS
2019
UC Santa Barbara
NCAA
56
217
53
70
18
8
11
45
3
0
20
38
.323
.393
.631
1.024
2019
2 Teams
A--Rk
48
182
22
54
6
4
4
28
3
2
21
62
.297
.366
.440
.805
2019
Salem-Keizer
A-
43
163
20
50
6
3
4
25
2
2
18
55
.307
.372
.454
.826
2019
Giants Black
Rk
5
19
2
4
0
1
0
3
1
0
3
7
.211
.318
.316
.634
Minors (1 season)
Minors
48
182
22
54
6
4
4
28
3
2
21
62
.297
.366
.440
.805

See Full Stats Here

GiantFutures Ranks: #6 Corner Outfielder

Performance: Smith’s junior year in UC Santa Barbara was what got him drafted, as changes in his swing to increase his launch angle increased in isolated slugging from .096 in his sophomore year to .308 his junior year.  He was challenged in Salem-Keizer, but he was mostly successful, slashing a .307/.372/.454 over 43 games there.

Smith didn’t show off as much power in S-K, but he had six doubles, three triples and four home runs in 183 plate appearances there.  He was also taken advantage of in the pros, with 55 strikeouts there, a 30.1% strikeout rate.  He was invited to instructs, and put up highlights shared by the Giants throughout the fall.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Some scouts said he has 80-grade raw power coming out of college, and while that may be a tad high, he certainly has a ton of power in his swing after he adjusted his swing to look for launch angle.  Since making those changes, he’s also been able to keeping up his contact skills, keeping a high batting average even while fighting the slugger’s natural enemy: strikeouts.

As noted, his strikeout rate did spike in his first pro season.  That’ll likely be a problem he’ll face as an ongoing issue in his career as he pursues the power to carry his career.

Smith is an average outfielder defensively.  He runs well in the outfield, and has an average arm.

2021 Outlook: Smith is likely to start the season in Low-A San Jose, to work on those strikeouts and get his power into the pro game.  There’s a small chance he starts in Eugene after a strong instructional league, but a crowded group of outfielders in the Giants system will probably keep him down for a while.

Future Profile: That slugging potential makes Smith a classic middle-of-the-order left fielder, bringing home runs to the offense, and handling the defense well enough to fit in.  However, that profile will still need him to improve, and show he can handle the stuff of professional pitchers as he works his way up the minor league ladder.