Former Braves prospect Mallex Smith is a candidate to start in left field for the Tampa Bay Rays when they open the season Sunday against the Yankees.
Smith is hitting only. 167 with his new team but could get an opportunity because starting outfielder Colby Rasmus has a groin injury and likely will begin the season on the disabled list.
That leaves Tampa Bay with five healthy outfielders: Smith, Corey Dickerson, Kevin Kiermaier, Steven Souza Jr. and Peter Bourjos.
Smith has four steals in 15 spring games, along with six runs and two RBIs. He’s struck out nine times in 36 at-bats.
Smith is wearing No. 0 with the Tampa Bay Rays.
"My name's kinda different, my game is a little bit different, you know what, I'm gonna go with zero,” Smith explained to the Tampa Bay Times.
The Braves traded Smith and Shae Simmons to the Mariners for pitchers Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows in January. Just over an hour later, Seattle sent Smith to Tampa Bay.
The speedster took the second trade in stride.
"Some of the best 77 minutes of my life," he said of being on Seattle’s roster. "It was awesome. The environment was crazy. It was electric. … I'm still getting fan mail from the Mariners fans about all the work I put in over there."
About the Author
