Growing up in East Greenbush, New York, Kevin Smith had a choice.
The Albany suburb is roughly equidistant to New York City and Boston. That means the town’s allegiances are split between two bitter enemies.
“Half the neighborhood was Yankees fans. Half was Red Sox fans,” Smith told the Daily News. “So it made for a good rivalry back then when Manny [Ramirez] and A-Rod and [Derek] Jeter and all those guys were playing. The rivalry was at the top of what it’s ever been, so it made for fun bus rides and fun school days just talking about who’s gonna win.”
Smith talked trash on behalf of the Yankees, as he would often stay up late to watch their games with his dad and grandpa. “We were a big Yankees fan family,” he said, adding that he gravitated toward Jeter.
Now Smith is playing for the Yankees as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor league deal over the offseason. He’s played lots of shortstop, just like his favorite player.
“It’s crazy. I mean, it’s something that you dream of as a little kid. So to be here and get that opportunity is really cool,” Smith said. “Any kid that played baseball in New York grew up wanting to do that. So to be able to be here and have that opportunity is something that 5-year-old me would think is pretty cool.”
Smith, 27, is fighting for a spot on the Yankees’ bench, as their backup infield and super utility jobs are unsettled. He’s also played second and third this spring, and he’s dabbled at first and in the corner outfield spots as a pro.
Smith takes a lot of pride in his defense, and his ability to backup Anthony Volpe at shortstop gives him an edge over a few competitors vying for the same bench spots, especially with Oswald Peraza’s shoulder on the mend. While Smith has made a few recent errors at the position, including a fielding blunder in the first inning of Sunday’s 12-6 loss to the Red Sox in Fort Myers, Florida, his glove has been noticed by Aaron Boone and teammates.
“What a lot of people don’t realize is he’s a really, really good shortstop,” Tommy Kahnle told The News. “Like really good. I think that’s kind of what’s undervalued with him.”
The 34-year-old reliever, another Albany-area native, played on the same travel team as Smith, the South Troy Dodgers, albeit at different times. Kahnle first met Smith when the latter was 17 or 18, and they began training together in the offseason when Kahnle turned pro and Smith was in college at Maryland.
Kahnle described Smith as a quiet kid that he knows well. In addition to praising his defensive work, the pitcher added that Smith has a “big bat.”
That bat had a strong day after Saturday’s error, as Smith went 3-for-3 with a three-run triple. The right-handed swinger was hitting .258 this spring prior to a Monday start at the hot corner.
Kevin Smith with a three-run triple!! pic.twitter.com/toNISzoS4N
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 17, 2024
Smith has put together some solid offensive seasons in the minors, including a .324/.372/.653 showing for the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate last season. He also belted 16 homers and totaled 46 RBI over 42 games in the Pacific Coast League.
However, the former top-100 prospect has had trouble finding success at the plate over parts of three major league seasons, as he’s hit just .173/.215/.301 with a 47 OPS+ over 114 games with Oakland and Toronto.
When asked why Smith’s bat hasn’t translated to the majors, Kahnle said a lack of reps may have something to do with it. Smith, meanwhile, noted some injuries, including a back strain last year and an ankle issue that put him in a walking boot in 2022.
“I just gotta be more consistent,” Smith said. “I feel like every year, I’m finding myself a little better. I’m staying a little more consistent at the plate. Obviously, just having some weird injuries at the big league level didn’t help either.”
Now healthy, Smith is hoping to break camp with the Yankees. However, the team has made multiple efforts to upgrade its bench since the offseason began, and Brian Cashman recently left the door open for external upgrades as rosters start to crunch at the end of spring training.
“I feel like we have some people that we can rely on here, but any spring, we’ll always look external, too,” the general manager said. “We’ll see how the rest of camp plays out elsewhere, as well as trade conversations. Something that might not fit elsewhere might fit better here. I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Whatever the Yankees do, it is out of Smith’s hands. He knows that, so he doesn’t want to waste time thinking about the decisions the team has to make.
“As far as thinking about what the roster can look like, I can’t really do anything about that,” Smith said. “And worrying or thinking about that too much really won’t help you in the long run. So I’m just coming in and trying to get my work in.”
