Quick Facts
Biography
Pavin Joe Smith (born February 6, 1996) is an American professional baseball first baseman in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers.
Amateur career
Pavin participated in the Babe Ruth League's 2008 Cal Ripken Major70 World Series. His two home runs in the World Championship helped his Jupiter, Florida, team defeat Mexico 5–4. Smith attended Palm Beach Gardens Community High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He played for the school's baseball team as a first baseman and pitcher. The Colorado Rockies selected him in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB draft, but he did not sign.
Smith enrolled at the University of Virginia to play college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team. He played the 2015 season with an ulnar collateral ligament injury of the elbow, which prevented him from pitching. Smith had the game-winning hit in the second game of the 2015 College World Series against Vanderbilt. Smith underwent Tommy John surgery after Virginia won the College World Series, and returned to play in 2016. He hit eight home runs as a sophomore. In 2017, his junior year, Smith batted .342 with 13 home runs and 12 strikeouts.
Professional career
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Smith with the seventh overall selection of the 2017 MLB draft. Smith signed with the Diamondbacks, receiving a $5,016,300 signing bonus. He made his professional debut with the Hillsboro Hops of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League.