DUNEDIN, Fla. – Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled center-field prospect Mallex Smith from the game just before the third inning Monday in what Gonzalez called a “teaching moment.”
But he also made sure he didn’t come across as going too hard on Smith, a dynamic talent who figures to be a big part of the Braves’ future and has played well early in spring training.
Smith’s offense was an ill-advised attempt at a slash-bunt maneuver, ala Ichiro, with two out in the third inning against the Blue Jays. This after Gonzalez said he told him earlier that he shouldn’t be spending time trying to master that difficult skill when he’s got so much else more practical to work on in his game.
Smith hit a soft line-out to the shortstop on the play, and Gonzalez said he hit multiple pop-ups when he worked on the slash bunt during batting practice before Sunday’s game against the Mets.
In the lineup in right field Monday, Smith had gone out to his position to start the bottom of the third inning when veteran utility player Reid Brignac was sent out to replace him. Smith coming off the field immediately prior to an inning was a bit conspicuous, and Gonzalez was asked after the game about the incident.
“Something we’ve been talking about,” Gonzalez said. “He’s not injured, it’s not anything. It was a good teaching moment, something between Mallex and myself, and he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow.”
When asked again for some clarification, Gonzalez said, “It’s a conversation that me and Mallex have been having, and it was a perfect time to have a little teaching moment, and I’ll leave it at that and he’ll play tomorrow.”
Later, Gonzalez explained what had happened, and stressed that it was not a big deal and that didn’t want it to be perceived as him being angry with Smith.
Gonzalez has been impressed by Smith’s performance so far – he had four extra-base hits including two triples and a homer in his first start last week — and seems to enjoy his outgoing and energetic personality.
At some point after the batting-practice session before Sunday’s game against the Mets, Gonzalez said he told Smith he didn’t want him trying it right now. Smith apparently misunderstood that to be Gonzalez saying he didn’t like it, but not telling him to stop doing it.
Regardless, both parties agreed it was not a big deal and Smith indicated he now understood Gonzalez’s position. Gonzalez said he wants him to focus on hitting line drives or laying down regular bunts and using his tremendous speed, rather than trying to develop such a difficult part of his game while he’s still trying to earn a spot on the major league roster or show team officials he could be ready if called upon this season.
Smith led minor league baseball with 88 stolen bases in 120 games in 2014, when he hit .310 with a .403 OBP for two Single-A Padres affiliates.
The Braves got him in the December 2014 trade for Justin Upton, and Smith hit .306 with a .373 OBP, eight triples, two home runs and 57 stolen bases in a combined 120 games last season in Double-A and Triple-A. He hit .281 with a .339 OBP in 69 games at Triple-A Gwinnett.
After getting just 11 plate appearances in spring training a year ago, Smith has played in six of the Braves’ seven games this spring and is 5-for-12 with those four extra-base hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
