Hagen Smith was one of the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft before he threw his first pitch in Friday night’s game against Oregon State. It’s safe to say that the Arkansas lefty only helped his cause.
For all intents and purposes, Smith was untouchable. He tied an Arkansas school record, striking out 17 hitters in the game. More impressive is that he needed only six innings to accrue those 17 strikeouts.
Each of the first 15 outs — and 17 of the 18 — that Smith recorded in the game came by way of the strikeout.
Hagen Smith with 15 strikeouts over 5 innings pitched! ⚾️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👀pic.twitter.com/eu2lneGhZa
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) February 24, 2024
HAGEN SMITH HAS 17 STRIKEOUTS THROUGH 6 INNINGS PITCHED VS NO. 7 OREGON STATE!
17 strikeouts ties an Arkansas single-game record. ⚾️🔥👀pic.twitter.com/y5nclw4QVy
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) February 24, 2024
He finished the game allowing only three hits and one walk in six shutout innings.
Holy Hagen Smith
6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 17 SO pic.twitter.com/GG28I8wiRo
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) February 24, 2024
Ordinarily, throwing six innings might point to a high pitch count, this was more likely due to it still being early in the season. Smith was economical with his pitches while striking out nearly everyone he faced, needing only 78 pitches to get through the six innings.
And while some performances in early-season games need to be taken with a grain of salt due to the competition, that was far from the case on Friday. Oregon State is one of the country’s best teams and had been particularly strong on offense during the early part of the season.
and vs. Oregon State who entered tonight undefeated and hitting .331/.452/.675 w/ 14 HR thru 5 G (against much weaker competition, but still)
Smith’s one of several college SP at the top of the ‘24 Draft with truly outrageous stuff — just about throwing strikes + staying healthy https://t.co/7crZmuffHp
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) February 24, 2024
The baseball world was in complete awe of Smith’s performance.
Hagen Smith with the stuff of legends for Arkansas.
More on the No. 15 Draft prospect, who recorded each of his first 15 outs via the K: https://t.co/4eyc0uuuI7 https://t.co/k8PwY5GOrZ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 24, 2024
Hagen Smith has recorded 15 strikeouts through 5 complete innings. That's not a typo. This is unbelievable.
— Tyler Jennings (@TylerJennings24) February 24, 2024
Hagen Smith 👑
He had 17 Ks in six scoreless innings tonight. Tied an Arkansas single-game record.
Sheer dominance against the No. 4 team in the country.
(🎥 @RazorbackBSB)pic.twitter.com/VOYQqOjScK
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) February 24, 2024
Hagen Smith 15 Ks through 5 IP. Amazing command of both his SL and FB. Best pitching performance I can remember in my 34 years of playing, coaching or scouting college baseball. Historic night for the lefty. pic.twitter.com/EzQoKZngTo
— David Seifert (@DSeifertD1PBR) February 24, 2024
Hagen Smith's day is over after tying the @RazorbackBSB record with 17 K, in just 6 IP. 17 of the 18 outs he recorded came via K, and 15 were using slider. He fanned Travis Bazzana, maybe the best hitter in America, 3 times on SL. Just 78 pitches too. Still touched 96 mph in 6th.
— Aaron Fitt (@aaronfitt) February 24, 2024
Unreal. 17 (!) Ks through 6 IP for Hagen Smith, as he backdoors this slider for a called 3rd strike. It’d be insanely impressive if he was doing this against any team, but Oregon State’s lineup is one of the best in the country. No words. pic.twitter.com/LvBfnJH6pz
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) February 24, 2024
Smith, a junior at Arkansas, was ranked as the No. 15 MLB Draft prospect before Friday’s outing. Expect him to shoot up in those rankings.
[Photo Credit: FloSports]
