Blue Jays Prospect Austin Smith to Make Pitching Debut

The two-way player will take the mound for the first time as a professional.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of vivid colors, representing the unique versatility of a two-way player.A cubist interpretation of a two-way baseball player's dual roles on the field.San Diego Today

The Toronto Blue Jays have announced that 2025 10th-round draft pick Austin Smith will make his professional pitching debut on April 9th for their Class-A affiliate, the Dunedin Blue Jays. Smith was a two-way player in college at the University of San Diego and UC San Diego, and the Blue Jays are excited to see him showcase his abilities on the mound as well as in the outfield.

Why it matters

Two-way players are a rarity in professional baseball, and the Blue Jays are hoping that Smith can develop into a legitimate two-way threat at the major league level. His success or failure in transitioning his college pitching skills to the pro game will be closely watched, as the Blue Jays look to uncover a unique talent.

The details

Smith was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, but has so far been limited to outfield duties as a professional. That will change on April 9th, when he takes the mound for his first pitching appearance. In college, Smith posted a 5.66 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 49.1 innings as a senior. The Blue Jays are eager to see if he can translate that success to the pro level.

  • Austin Smith will make his pitching debut on April 9, 2026.

The players

Austin Smith

A left-handed two-way player who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2025 MLB Draft. He played college baseball at the University of San Diego and UC San Diego.

Toronto Blue Jays

The professional baseball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that plays in the American League East division of Major League Baseball.

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What they’re saying

“I take what I can do as something special and I'm super excited to go out and do it today.”

— Austin Smith

What’s next

The Blue Jays will closely monitor Smith's pitching performance and workload as he attempts to establish himself as a legitimate two-way prospect in their minor league system.

The takeaway

The development of two-way players is a rare and intriguing prospect in modern baseball, and the Blue Jays are hoping that Austin Smith can buck the trend and successfully transition his college skills to the professional level on both the mound and in the field.