WASHINGTON – Mallex Smith’s major league debut ended abruptly when the speedy Braves center-field prospect left Monday’s game with a bloody laceration over his left eye after being struck by his batting helmet on a fourth-inning slide.
Smith required five stitches but was otherwise in good spirits after the Braves' 6-4 loss to the Nationals.
“I steal all these bases and now, I get my first day in the big leagues and my helmet comes off and bounces up and cuts me,” said Smith, smiling and shaking his head. “What are the odds?”
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he might rest Smith Tuesday in the second game of the series, but only because they’re facing a left-hander (Gio Gonzalez) and he’d already been leaning toward playing Drew Stubbs in center against the lefty before Smith got hurt.
“I’m sure he didn’t want to come out with five stitches in his forehead,” Gonzalez said of Smith’s debut, “but (the injury is) nothing other than that. He’ll be back in there as soon as we can get him back in there. He didn’t want to come out of the game, but it was a pretty good size cut….
“I’m thinking if there was a right-hander in there tomorrow, he’s in there. Given Gio’s pretty tough on lefties, give (Smith) the day off You don’t want to just throw him to the sharks, because he’s going to have to face (Stephen) Strasburg the next day.”
Smith was on first base with two out in the fourth inning of series opener when he tried to steal second. He dove hands-first on a close play, arriving just as the throw from catcher Wilson Ramos reached the base.
His helmet popped off when he slid, and bounced off the ground and into Smith’s face. When he got up and walked off the field, there was a significant amount blood above his nose on his forehead. Smith was replaced by Stubbs in the bottom of the inning.
“It probably looked worse than it was,” Smith said. “I still haven’t felt too much pain. They numbed me up, got me some stiches. But I’m fine. I’ll play with this every day of the week.”
As for Tuesday’s game, he said, “I have all plans on being in there tomorrow. It’s up to Fredi, but I’m definitely ready to go.”
Smith was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett to replace injured center fielder Ender Inciarte, who went on the 15-day disabled list Sunday for a strained hamstring. Smith, 23, arrived in Washington on Monday and his parents also traveled to the game to his see his debut.
He was in the lineup in center and batting leadoff, and Smith got his first major league hit on an infield single in the second inning in his second plate appearance. He showed his blazing speed on that play and when he scored from first base on a Nick Markakis double.
Before his first at-bat, Smith stood outside the batter’s box and looked around Nationals Park for a moment before getting in to face Scherzer, who struck him out on three pitches in that initial at-bat.
“It looked like he was kind of looking around and taking it all in a little bit,” Gonzalez said of Smith’s reaction when he went to bat that first time. “But that’s him. You know what? Good for him. This guy … it won’t be his last, I’ll tell you that much. This guy’s a good player.”
Smith said he did, indeed, take a moment to take it all in before the first pitch.
“I just wanted to appreciate the moment,” he said. “You get one first at-bat in the major leagues. I just wanted to make sure I took it all in, enjoyed the scenery, enjoyed just who I was facing, the team, Scherzer’s on the mound. And I appreciate him for letting me do that.”
Despite the early exit and Braves loss, Smith said his debut was a night he’d never forget.
“Every moment of it has been great,” he said. “I would have at least liked to have finished the game, but I’ll have more opportunities.”
When a reporter mentioned that Smith might have a scar to remember the game, he said, "Might? I will have a scar to remember it by. I'll have a good story from my debut down the road."
