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Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospects: #9 Mallex Smith

By Benjamin Chase

Feb 26, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Mallex Smith during media day at ESPN
Feb 26, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Mallex Smith during media day at ESPN /
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Mar 2, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Mallex Smith (83) pose for photo day at Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Mallex Smith (83) pose for photo day at Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Mallex Smith 2016 Outlook

Mallex is really the next guy up as far as hitters go. The Braves have a load of pitchers all on the doorstep ready to join the major league rotation, but right now, Smith is the only real “prospect” ready to challenge for the major league team right away in 2016. That said, there’s some significant things for Mallex to work on in order to fully utilize his speed in a way that could be useful long-term for the team.

I truly believe the best guy for Mallex Smith to work with is currently on the team in Michael Bourn. If you look at Bourn’s career, he had a similar profile as Smith coming up, actually getting such low consideration about his base running and his defense that the Phillies played him in left field, and the Astros worked with Bourn to go to the Dominican Winter League after his 2008 season to work on his defense and base running, and he made huge leaps in 2009 and became recognized as one of the elite defensive outfielders in the game by 2010. Their incredibly similar profiles and similar deficiencies in Smith’s game currently would make Bourn a perfect mentor for Smith for the time being. That said, the addition of a certain Andruw Jones to the coaching staff could also be a huge boon to Mallex’s future as it’s already been reported that Andruw has been working in center with Mallex on his routes.

Next: Braves Top 100 Prospects Updated

Mallex will most likely start in Gwinnett to start the season, barring an unforeseen trade that clears out a full-time outfield spot for him, because I do not believe the Braves want him platooning at all if he is in Atlanta. He’ll be up when he shows the defense and base running improvements he needs to. Ender Inciarte is an elite right fielder, but much like Jason Heyward was for the Braves in the past, he may simply be a good, not elite center fielder. With his speed, Smith could be an elite center fielder and allow Inciarte to move to where he truly brings incredible defensive value to the team – but that would require the move of a guy like Nick Markakis.

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