PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) selected infielder Pavin Smith (@PavinSmith) [pronounced "pay-vin"] from the University of Virginia with the seventh pick in the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Smith, 21, was rated as Baseball America's seventh-best prospect while MLB.com had him as the eighth-best prospect. He was a 2017 semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, a Preseason First-Team All-American by Baseball America and Perfect Game, and First-Team All-ACC at first base at the end of the season.
In 3 seasons for the Cavaliers as a first baseman and outfielder, his 178 RBI were second-most in school history while his 28 home runs tied for sixth-most. Overall in 187 games, he hit .325 (236-for-726) with 41 doubles, 6 triples, 28 homers, 178 RBI, 100 walks and .402 on-base and .514 slugging percentages.
This season, he started 59 games for the Cavaliers and hit .342 (78-for-228) with 11 doubles, 1 triple, 13 homers, 77 RBI and 38 walks along with .427 on-base and .570 slugging percentages. His 77 RBI were a single-season Cavaliers record, second in the ACC and fourth nationally.
As a sophomore in 2016, he was Second-Team All-ACC and a Baseball America Preseason Third-Team All-American as well as a NCAA Charlottesville Regional All-Tournament Team. His 57 RBI ranked seventh in the ACC.
He was a freshman on the 2015 national championship team and named a Second-Team All-American by Baseball America and Louisville Slugger. His team-leading 83 hits tied for fourth in ACC.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder hits and throws left-handed. He is a native of Jupiter, Fla. and attended Palm Beach Gardens High School. He was selected in the 2014 draft by the Colorado Rockies (32nd round).