SEATTLE — If you had the hot-bat month that outfielder Seth Smith did with the Seattle Mariners in April, you might not want to turn the page.
Good thing that Smith historically has been even better in May.
The 33-year-old Mississippi native finished April with a .298 batting average, and the team’s leading marks in on-base percentage (.423) and slugging percentage (.544).
It was arguably Smith’s best first month in the majors since he was a part-time outfielder in Colorado in 2009 (.324/.490/.595).
And Smith finished off the month in grand style, hitting a home run in back-to-back games for the sixth time in his career. His solo shot off Yordano Ventura in the first inning Saturday started the scoring for the Mariners in a 6-0 victory over Kansas City.
“It really started when he (Smith) first started playing in March. His approach from the first day of spring training has been fantastic,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “He hasn’t tried to do too much. He’s used the whole field. He’s a guy they typically shift against a lot — and multiple times he’s beaten the shift because he is using the whole field.
“Just the quality at-bat and the consistency of it is great to see. He’s hit that point in his career where he knows who he is.”
So why has Smith been a fast starter?
He has no idea.
And he prefers not to know the numbers to cloud his head.
“It’s nothing particular,” the soft-spoken Smith said. “I try to get my swing in a place where I can repeat it, and get a good swing off as often as possible.”
The last time Smith hit home runs in back-to-back games was May 17-18 of 2014 while with San Diego.
“If you are hitting the ball hard and barreling it up, (there) is a better opportunity for stuff (extra-base hits) like that to happen,” Smith said. “Ultimately, the swing is what it is, and I am just trying to get a good pitch and hit it hard. After that, you can’t really worry about it.”
Smith has hit 21 home runs in May — easily the best power-output month for his career.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
