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Atlanta Braves Mallex Smith Gets Cut From Winter League

By Jeff Schafer

Apr 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Mallex Smith (17) signs autographs for fans before a game against the New York Mets at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Mallex Smith (17) signs autographs for fans before a game against the New York Mets at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Hermosillo’s Cut Smith From MWL

It was announced yesterday that Atlanta Braves outfielder, Mallex Smith was cut from the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexicana del Pacifico Winter League.  Smith has been with the team since October 14 and was suppose to play with them up until Thanksgiving.

The 23-year-old was struggling badly at the plate.  He had a slash line of just .109/.000/.000 over his 40 at bats.  Smith went 5-40 with two triples, one homer, two RBIs, seven runs, no walks, two stolen bases and 11 strikeouts.

Let me start by saying the Winter Leagues are tough and aren’t just a fun place to go play more baseball.  These are the top prospects in the game and they are working on their own weaknesses.  So the pitchers are throwing lots of breaking balls, off-speed pitches that may not always be close to the plate.

That alone, I think we can make a good case on why the strikeouts are high and the batting average is low.

These Winter League teams want to win ball games and really don’t care about “player development”.  This is their seasons and they will do whatever they have to do so that they are competitive.  Hermosillo is currently 9-6 and that’s the best record in the league.

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Braves fans have high hopes for this young man, but this will definitely hurt his status.  Many want the Braves to trade one of their outfielders — Ender Inciarte, Nick Markakis or Matt Kemp — this offseason, but now that idea may not be the same.  Markakis is the name that continues to come up as a trading piece, but I’ll stay in the camp that it’s not the time to trade Markakis.

If the Braves start the 2017 season badly, it’s getting closer to the trade deadline, Markakis is playing well, and Mallex is playing well wherever he’s at, then we look to make a deal.

Smith was expected to head into Spring Training with the opportunity to compete for a 25-man roster spot on the Atlanta Braves.  Unless he impresses during ST, it’s very possible the Braves send him to Gwinnett to continue to work on his game.

Listen, I wouldn’t be opposed to this at all.  He’s still young and still has room to grow.  If the Braves keep Markakis, send Smith to Gwinnett instead of stashing him on the bench in ATL.

Smith was rushed to ATL when Ender Inciarte had a hamstring injury.  He played with the Braves from April 11 to June 19, but that’s when his injury happened.

Mets Antonio Bastardo hit Smith in the hand and it broke his left thumb.  He was out for the majority of the summer and returned to the Braves on September 16.

Though his average wasn’t the best for the Braves (.238 during the 2016 season) he was a nice spark for the team and we all saw the potential he has.

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The Braves are working to get Smith on another Winter League team for the next month, but it is unknown at this time if any progress has been made.  Braves Nation, we shouldn’t be worried about this situation.

Smith was the only player on Hermosillo that was on an MLB 40-man roster.

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