With the 138th pick in the 2015 draft, the Texas Rangers selected Chad Smith, a lefty center fielder from South Gwinnett High.

He also pitched in high school, posting a 2.88 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings his junior year, but the Rangers will likely want him to develop in the outfield.

Smith has good speed and an above-average arm, so there’s a chance he can stay in center field in the pros. He shows promise to hit for both average and power, but some scouts question his hand-eye coordination and plate discipline, according to his ESPN.com scouting report.

Baseball America ranked him the No. 202 draft prospect.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The city of Atlanta gave Georgia State University the green light to start construction on a new baseball facility. (Courtesy of Georgia State University Athletics)

Credit: Georgia State University Athletics

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com