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Blue Jays prospect Austin Smith set to become two-way player in 2026
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Photo credit: © Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 6, 2025, 14:30 EDTUpdated: Aug 6, 2025, 13:50 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays will have a two-way player in the system beginning next season.
According to Eli Fishman during the Dunedin Blue Jays’ broadcast on Tuesday evening, the Blue Jays will deploy their 10th-round pick in the 2025 draft, Austin Smith, as a two-way player to begin the 2026 season.
Smith was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 10th round out of the University of San Diego. During his collegiate career, Smith split his time between the mound and at the dish. On the mound, Smith posted a 5.66 ERA and 5.88 FIP in 49.1 innings pitched, with a 22.4 K% and 13.4 BB% in 2025, his worst season on the mound to date.
In 2024, Smith had a 3.49 ERA and 4.49 FIP in 56.2 innings pitched, striking out 19.6% of the batters he faced and walking 10.4% of the batters he faced. He had the same ERA the season before, but finished with a 3.36 FIP thanks to his 28 K% and 6.5 BB%. Smith made seven starts in 12 appearances on the mound in 2023. 
Last season at the plate, Smith slashed .353/.412/.528 with six home runs in 250 plate appearances. It was a similar season to 2024, when he slashed .314/.429/.471 with seven home runs in 257 plate appearances.
For his entire collegiate career, the outfielder/left-handed pitcher finished slashing .305/.404/.443 with 20 home runs in 937 plate appearances. On the mound, Smith had a 4.12 ERA in 161.2 innings pitched, with a 23.5 K% and 10.2 BB%. 
On top of the solid numbers, there’s merit to using Smith as a two-way player as well, as Smith finished as a John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award finalist in 2024 and a semifinalist for the award in 2025.
So far in Smith’s professional career, he’s slashing .188/.381/.250 with a double in 21 plate appearances for a 103 wRC+. Smith is one of a handful of 2025 draftees (or undrafted free agents) who started their professional career at the Single-A level. Joining him are Jake Casey, Maddox Latta, Jaxson West, Matt Scannell, and others.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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