Smith's goal for '25? A super utility Gold Glove
Kennedi Landry
@kennlandrySURPRISE, Ariz. -- Josh Smith won a Silver Slugger Award as a utilityman in 2024, becoming the first Ranger to claim the honor at the utility position since the category was introduced in 2022. Now, his sights are set on a utility Gold Glove.
¡°That¡¯s the goal,¡± Smith said.
¡°I¡¯m just hoping I can continue to build off of last year,¡± he added with a laugh. ¡°Obviously this year I¡¯m probably playing a couple more positions. So I'd say being able to play all those positions while hitting at the same time would be pretty nice. I have an infield, outfield and spare outfield glove. Might need to get a catcher's mitt, too.¡±
Smith had a career year in 2024, posting career highs in all three slash categories (.258/.337/.394), OPS (.731), home runs (13), RBIs (62), walks (46), runs (67), hits (135) and doubles (30) in 2024. He ranked among the American League leaders in hit-by-pitches (18, fifth), doubles (30, tied for 17th) and on-base percentage (18th).
Smith earned a starting spot at third base when 2023 All-Star Josh Jung landed on the injured list from April 2-July 28 with a right wrist fracture. Smith started at third base for 69 of Texas¡¯ 102 games over that time. Across the entire season, Smith played in a career-high 149 games, making starts at third base (76), shortstop (41), designated hitter (13), left field (four) and right field (one).
His career year came after he hit just .185 with a .632 OPS in 90 games in 2023.
¡°Just for me personally, I¡¯m just proud of myself for taking advantage of the opportunity,¡± Smith said. ¡°Obviously you don't like how it presented itself [Jung getting hurt], but just being able to just be ready whenever your name is called at any position. That¡¯s what I¡¯m most proud of.¡±
So what¡¯s next for a guy like Smith, who has no clear position, but excels at almost all of them?
¡°I think super utility is his best use,¡± president of baseball operations Chris Young said. ¡°I think there's ways we can get him in the lineup at least four, if not five, maybe even six days a week, depending on the need. Josh has done such a tremendous job, and that's a hard role for a young player.
¡°We saw how Josh stepped in last year and handled that and was able to perform while playing defensively very well at multiple positions. That's a very hard thing for a young player to do. It's a hard thing for a veteran player to do, and Josh is showing a great ability to do that. It's such a versatile skill set, and something that's so important to our team.¡±
Manager Bruce Bochy was quick to say that he won¡¯t hesitate to put Smith at any position, even first base, a position he has not played at any level of professional baseball. Bochy has even joked -- or maybe it¡¯s not a joke -- that Smith is Texas' emergency catcher.
But Smith is always up for a challenge. The Rangers have shown confidence in his ability to adapt and adjust at every position, as far back as his time with Triple-A Round Rock in 2022 when he began getting outfield reps.
¡°A guy like that is a manager's dream,¡± Bochy said. ¡°This guy could play anywhere, and he's comfortable playing all positions. I'm even going to give him some reps at first.
¡°My first year in ¡®23, I mentioned catching to him and he said, ¡®Yeah, I can do it.¡¯ I don't think he's ever done it, but he didn't hesitate. So you'll see him in the outfield. Would like to get him some reps in center field, too, but he's just comfortable doing it. It's very workable, as far as keeping him in the mix, keeping his bat in there, as well as the defense.¡±