Commitment Spotlight: Derek Smith
June 12, 2020
Today, we caught up with 2022 C Derek Smith from Horizon High School. Smith recently committed to Oklahoma State University. He took some time to answer some questions for us today about his college recruiting experience.
2022 C Derek Smith (Horizon) is currently ranked as the No. 4 prospect in Arizona in the class of 2022; he's the top ranked catcher in the state at the class. He also ranked in our national rankings, coming in at No. 176. Smith has been a young prospect that scouts started paying close attention to after a Horizon State Championship in 2019. He's really stood out over the last year as an athletic, ultra projectable catching prospect.
Take a look at what Smith said about his college recruiting experience to date:
Derek Smith
Class of 2022 / C
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2022
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Primary Position: CSecondary Position: 3B
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High School: HorizonState: AZ
- Summer Team: Boom
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Height: 6-2Weight: 200lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Vizual_Edge
Videos
(1/26/20)
PBR: Why did you choose the school you did?
Smith: My number one reason was the coaching staff. I got to meet them last year and liked their style of coaching. I also learned that they will be at OSU for the next 8 years. I like that stability. My second reason is that I wanted to find a school where I can have the chance to play as a freshman and that could also make a run in Omaha.
PBR: What other schools were you considering?
Smith: Honestly, I was interested in any power 5 school that needed a 2022 catcher, but I just really liked the schools in the Big 12.
PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with him?
Smith: They saw a video of me that impressed them that was posted last summer and then they got ahold of some of my coaches after that. I went to their prospect camp last fall at their request. We spoke on the phone a lot after that so they could keep up with what I was doing. They were impressed with my progress and work that I have been putting in.
PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
Smith: Absolutely. Now I feel like I can focus on weightlifting, extra conditioning and just developing as a player in my positions.
PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
Smith: I was really comfortable with the OSU coaching staff. They told me they like how hard I work and told me what I need to do to be able to play as a freshman.
PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
Smith: I can’t really say that it was just one person. My coaches and my family pushed me the most and help me get to where I am today.
PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
Smith: I really didn’t know what to expect. All I knew is which schools I wanted to have the chance to play for. It actually felt pretty easy in my opinion because of the help I had around me.
PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
Smith: They told they expect me to be an impact player my freshman year so I will be working hard to make that happen.
PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
Smith: Hands down the most memorable moment was winning our high school 2019 State Championship as a freshman. That 5 and half hour game will be something I will never forget.
PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
Smith: Chase Valentine. It's fun watching him play. He makes the hard plays look easy.
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Scouting Report
Verbally committed to Oklahoma State University
Large 6-foot-2 180-pound build, long limbs with loose hips, high ceiling with plenty of room to add more strength in his athletic frame. Multi-sport athlete that was still in basketball season during this event. Hits from an athletic balanced base, controlling back leg through a small leg lift. Hands start shoulder height, loading to back foot with vertical barrel. Controlled gap to gap approach with hard contact at 87mph. Power potential as he gets stronger. Stays in control of his movements and moves quickly behind the plate. Wide stance and loose hips. Soft hands receiving with long limbs gave him the ability to get around pitches more efficiently. Arm will build up as the season moves forward. Currently, makes transfers deep with 2.0-2.16 pop times, getting tall in his follow through. 76mph arm strength. Should improve a ton as he transfers back onto the baseball field. Strong follow as a power-hitting catching prospect.
Large lean frame at 6’2” 175lbs, proportional strength with long limbs, good athleticism from catcher position, consistent accurate arm at 76mph, pop times ranging from 1.9-2.07, exchanges on side of body, more follow through available, no issue blocking balls with good mobility from longer frame, hits from balanced athletic setup, rock back knee turn trigger, slightly forced hand separation, above average pop, LD contact with 87mph exit velo, high level prospect to follow.
6-foot-2, 165-pound frame. Lean, developing body. Tons of room for projection/maturation in long limbs. The right-handed hitting catcher shows rhythm in set-up, and ability to create leverage; 83 mph exit velo. In BP Smith struggled with timing, leading to an up and down round, but the body and hands make for an intriguing offensive 2022 prospect. Behind the plate, posted pop times of 2.06-2.15 with 70 mph velocity. Continued physical development will improve arm strength and bring times down. Ran 7.58 60-yard dash.