OXON HILL, Md. – Braves officials like the speed and outfield versatility that Mallex Smith could give them as a fourth outfielder next season, but they also believe he would benefit from playing on a regular basis after missing much of his rookie season with a broken thumb.
As long as the Braves’ starting outfield trio of Matt Kemp, Ender Inciarte and Nick Markakis is healthy, 23-year-old Smith won’t see significant playing time on the major league roster. Which is why it sounds like the Braves are planning to send him to Triple-A to start the season, barring an injury or unexpected trade.
“Getting hurt this year did not do him any service,” Braves president of baseball operations John Hart said. “We brought him up when Ender got hurt (in early April), and we were going to ship (Smith) out (in June), then he got hurt and in effect missed two-thirds of the year.”
Smith hit .238 with a .316 OBP and .681 OPS in 72 games for the Braves and had 14 extra-base hits (four triples, three home runs) and 16 stolen bases in 215 plate appearances. He missed 10 weeks after being hit in the hand by a pitch June 19 and didn’t play much after coming off the disabled list in September.
In his last 42 games before the broken thumb, Smith hit .272 with a .778 OPS, and he led the Braves with 14 stolen bases and a .349 average with runners in scoring position at the time of the injury.
“This is a talented player, but he still needs more development time,” Hart said. “At the same point, Mallex is an interesting guy because he can do a lot of things for you. You can spell him at all three outfield positions, he can run. But the question we’ll have to ask ourselves, and are asking ourselves, is are we doing him a disservice, and ultimate ourselves a disservice, by making him a bench player or role player.
“If there’s an opportunity, somebody gets hurt, (he’ll be ready if) he’s getting everyday at-bats (at Triple-A), finishing himself off, working on his batting, working on his base-stealing, routes in center field, all the little things, I’m OK with it.”
The Braves’ fourth outfield spot seems an ill fit for any player still in the development stages. Newly signed veteran Sean Rodriguez can play seven positions and has experience at all three outfield positions, but he’s likely to get regular starts at second base and third base.
The team could sign or trade for another outfielder with experience as a backup and pinch-hitter.
The Braves hoped Smith would be able to get plenty of at-bats this winter in the Mexican league, but he strained an oblique muscle and hit .109 (5-for-46) with a .157 OBP in 12 games before being released by Hermosillo.
The trio of Braves veteran outfielders were all instrumental in the team’s major offensive improvement in the second half last season, with Kemp’s production in the cleanup spot providing a big boost after he was traded from San Diego at the end of July. Defensively, Inciarte won a Gold Glove in center and Markakis was a Gold Glove finalist in right.
Markakis is one of baseball’s most durable players in a decade, playing in 155 games or more for nine of the past 10 seasons. Kemp has played 150 or more games in seven of the past nine seasons including each of the past three, and last season marked the fifth time he played at least 155 games.
Inciarte missed a month early with a hamstring strain for the second consecutive season, but he became a fixture in center field after Brian Snitker took over as manager in mid May. Inciarte started 109 of the last 119 games in center field including 77 of the final 79.
“Snit will tell you, these guys, they don’t want days off,” Hart said, noting that Markakis is particular is adamant about being in the lineup. “Snit said, ‘I may have given Markakis his last day off; he is no fun on the bench.’ Ender hates to sit down, Kemp never wants a day off.”
