Rangers’ rookie Josh Smith and the art of the Hit By Pitch

First issues first: Josh Smith says he isn’t attempting to get hit by pitches. Taking a physique blow from a fastball isn’t actually a perk of being a significant league hitter.

But as to why he’s been hit 3 times in his first 4 video games — changing into the first participant to do this since San Francisco infielder Kevin Frandsen in 2006 — Smith doesn’t essentially have a solution.

“I’m trying to get out of the way,” Smith stated, “but sometimes I just don’t. Really, I don’t know.”

Smith was changed by Charlie Culberson in the ninth inning of the Rangers’ recreation towards the Mariners on Friday as a result of of left shoulder soreness. He had an ungainly touchdown on a line drive to 3rd base throughout the recreation.

Early on his MLB profession, Smith has gained the status of a magnet man. Pitches simply appear to seek out him. It’s occurred all through his profession, too.

In his two full seasons at LSU he was hit a mixed 30 occasions. Last 12 months, with a number of minor league groups, Smith was hit a complete of 18 occasions. If you embrace his time in Round Rock, he’s been hit eight occasions in 44 video games. At that tempo, he’ll get hit by almost 30 pitches in a full, 162 recreation season. For perspective: the final time a participant was hit 30 occasions or extra in a season was Brandon Guyer, who was hit 31 occasions in 2016 with Cleveland and Tampa Bay.

Smith has different methods of getting on base, of course. The rookie batted leadoff for the second-straight recreation on Friday, reaching base with successful for the second-straight day, as effectively.

Rangers supervisor Chris Woodward was requested earlier than Friday’s recreation if Smith is crowding the plate and if that may very well be a motive why he’s been hit 3 times in 4 video games. He didn’t suppose that was the motive, however he did have one other concept.

“I think if you watch a major league game, every player basically has the chance to get hit by a pitch every game, and they just move out of the way,” Woodward stated. “He’s kind of like, ‘No.’”

The video backs it up. The first two occasions he was hit, Smith didn’t react to a ball coming inside. The third time, throughout Thursday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, Smith moved barely. At first, dwelling plate umpire Ryan Willis dominated that Smith wasn’t hit by the pitch. Smith rotated and appeared to the dugout, hoping they might problem it. The Rangers did and Smith ended up on first.

“It hit me, and I was like, ‘There’s zero chance they’re going to be able to see this,’” Smith recalled pondering. “But I knew it barely hit me.”

He’s been hit sufficient to know what it looks like.

+++

Find extra Rangers protection from The Dallas Morning News right here.