Blue Jays: Looking at the players involved in the Matt Chapman trade

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 18: Matt Chapman #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2022 in New York City. Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 9-2. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 18: Matt Chapman #26 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 18, 2022 in New York City. Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 9-2. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 5: Kevin Smith #1 of the Oakland Athletics bats during the game against the Boston Red Sox at RingCentral Coliseum on June 5, 2022 in Oakland, California. The Red Sox defeated the Athletics 5-2. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) /

Kevin Smith

At the end of last season, Kevin Smith got his first taste of the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays.

A former fourth round pick back in 2017, Smith was called up to the active roster on August 18th and lasted about a month, finishing the season with a .094/.194/.188 slash line and a .382 OPS through 32 at-bats while being used sporadicly in August and Septmeber. He did also collect his first MLB home run, a left-centre shot of Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd at Comerica Park.

Coming into the 2022 season, Smith was fighting for a spot on the Blue Jays bench, with his main competition being that of Gosuke Katoh and Otto Lopez heading into the campaign. Smith would instead be sent to Oakland and made the Opening Day roster but struggled through his first month with the A’s, failing to register a hit until his seventh game of the season and his 17th at-bats on the year.

He also spent some time on the IL in late April due to an ankle injury and lasted another month and a half with the Athletics before being optioned down to AAA. At the MLB level this year, Smith owns a .180/.216/.302 slash line with a .518 OPS and has split his time between 3B and SS.

Smith was optioned down to AAA on June 13th and with the Las Vegas Aviators, he sports a .565 OPS with one home run, 25 RBI, and 73 strikeouts through 191 at-bats.