Pavin Smith turned on Marcus Stroman’s fastball in the sixth inning on Tuesday night, launching it deep into the bleachers in right field. When asked if it might be the best swing he had been on a ball during his still-brief major league career, Smith did not disagree.
“I’m pretty sure that probably went the farthest,” he said, “and it felt the best.”
As it turns out, his 435-foot homer tied his personal best for distance. It was the kind of aggressive, power-oriented swing the Diamondbacks have been seeing more and more of from Smith.
When the club used the seventh overall pick on him in 2017, it saw him as a terrific pure hitter with a sound approach, a good understanding of the strike zone and an ability to recognize pitches.