Rangers Promote Justin Smoak To Oklahoma City

Posted on July 4th, 2009 10:33am by Evan Grant
Filed under Baseball, Rangers notes, Rangers prospects

1B Justin Smoak has moved closer to the big leagues by moving farther away from Arlington.

Rangers GM Jon Daniels confirmed this morning that Smoak, the team’s first round pick in 2008, has been promoted from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Smoak, 22, was hitting .328 at Frisco with six homers 29 RBIs and a .936 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He played 50 games for Frisco. Smoak likely would have been promoted earlier had he not suffered a strained oblique muscle that kept him out of action for a little over three weeks. He returned to the Frisco lineup on June 23 and went 11-for-32 (.344) in nine games. He also walked seven times for an on-base percentage of .462 after his return.

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17 Comments to “Rangers Promote Justin Smoak To Oklahoma City”
  • CW @ July 4th, 2009 at 10:41 am

    I guess this means Chris Davis isn’t going any where in the short term. Great to see Smoak continue to tear it up.

  • Corey Mayo @ July 4th, 2009 at 10:43 am

    I hope things continue to progress for him–Chris Davis needs some help.

  • idinh @ July 4th, 2009 at 10:46 am

    Can’t wait to see Smoak @ the Ballpark around September and possibly fortifying a playoff run.

  • Tom B @ July 4th, 2009 at 10:54 am

    I would imagine CD will experience a mystery injury about ASG time, especially if Smoak does well at OKC. Then it will be disabled list and rehab for a few days until CD “Regains” his health and “Returns to normal.” You know how that ‘timing,’ can be.

  • Redcaps @ July 4th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    Smoak still needs to learn to hit lefties.

  • Jacob B @ July 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

    @redcaps: what’s his avg against lefties so far? I don’t know if I’ve ever seen the stat.

    This looks like a subtle message to Chris Davis. Something along the lines of: This is part of the baseball learning/evaluation process and he had to be promoted to continue to learn, and for the Rangers to evaluate him. But if he’s performing well at AAA and your still struggling…. sorry dude.

    The fact that they didn’t promote Smoak to the majors from AA I guess means they are still being patient and have faith that Davis is going to turn himself around, but looks like the limit of managements patience approaching.

  • James @ July 4th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Smoak is hitting .196 vs lefties

  • NC Ranger @ July 4th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Smoak against lefties would be a 50 point improvement over what Davis is doing against lefties (.145). Additionally, Davis has an OBP of .205 against lefties and has struck out 36 times in 76 ABs. Smoak’s OBP is .268 but he has struck out only 9 times in 51 ABs.

  • scooper @ July 4th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    per Jamey Newberg, Davis was promoted to the majors after 31 games @ AAA in 2008. I think Davis knows EXACTLY what Smoak’s promotion means.

  • scooper @ July 4th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    If Davis starts hitting like he is capable of hitting (higher avg., cut down on K’s), I want Smoak to be our DH a month from now. If Davis doesn’t improve, I’m sure Smoak will be playing 1b (assuming Smoak has similar results at AAA).

  • Tom B @ July 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    If Blalock continues his mini-streak, his value will never be higher. Surely someone will want him and his contract. Give him to whomever w/Andruw in a two for the price of one swap for prospects. 50+ wins at the break
    will present a problem but non-arbitration eligible prospects are cheaper to keep than rent-a-stars.

  • TD @ July 4th, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    The MORE the MERRIER…..love how aggresive we are being with the young talent. I have been a little dissapointed with the way we handled Borbon once he did get called up, but you never know when there could be a trade or who could get hurt. Chris Davis is a lightning rod, but he has contributed and even won at least 2 games for this team with game winning homeruns and that is saying something since we are TIED for first today. I would hate to lose the pennant on an error by a rookie first baseman……

  • scooper @ July 4th, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    @TD: I still think that Davis is a big part of the future and, personally, I think he will come out of his funk. I would really like to see Davis at 1B and Smoak at DH.

  • mr. clean @ July 4th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    I just got back from a cleaning utensils symposium in Maui. Is Smoak completely healthy now? Will he he the everyday 1B at Oklahoma City?

  • Salman @ July 4th, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    Smoak should be the everyday 1st baseman at Oklahoma. Don’t think Nate Gold is blocking him (Hypo you crazy sob).

  • marc @ July 4th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

    It is not like Hafner, Gonzales, or Pena knocked the cover off the ball when they here. Give Davis some time to mature. He is not a liability 1st. Infact he should win the gold glove for the first half of the season.

    If there is any bat in the lineup I am concerned with it is Kinslers.

    To Kinsler ” Have you ever heard of right field?” We know you can occationally turn on a ball but you also pull your bunts into the opposing teams dugout.

    Kins needs to watch the movie “major league” every time Willie mays Hays hit a fly ball he had to do pushups.

  • JimNFW @ July 4th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    @Marc: I’m with you. Kinsler’s uppercut swing is getting on my nerves.