The Toronto Blue Jays lost out on the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes, but they have their own two way prospect who just made his pitching debut in class A this season. Austin Smith, who the Blue Jays selected in the 10th round of the MLB Draft last season, pitched a third of an inning for the Dunedin Blue Jays last night.
Smith played only as a hitter when he came to the Blue Jays in 2025. He batted .259/.394/.395 with 2 home runs and 7 stolen bases in 99 plate appearances. Smith played for the University of San Diego before turning professional.
Smith seems excited for the opportunity and extra help with his development. He said, “To do it at the professional level is definitely something exciting and something that I look forward to… Double the work, but that’s what I signed up for when I wanted to be a two-way (player). Get to the field, do all my hitting, jumping with the pitchers, and throw with them. Keep bouncing back and forth and the coaches are pretty great, letting me communicate and do what I need to do.”
Blue Jays Fans React to News
GettyBlue Jays fans are excited about the development of Austin Smith.
Blue Jays fans had plenty of excitement for this news yesterday.
Spencer Sundahl said, “Not many guys are able to pitch AND hit at the pro level! Talent level is off the charts for @austinsmith1127″
A couple of other fans reacted with similar claims, “We have our own Ohtani? Hell yea!”
Having an opportunity to develop a two way player is unique. Outside of Ohtani, it has been impossible to replicate that success in the MLB. Many have tried, but it has been an arduous road.
History of Two Way Players in the Modern MLB
GettyBrendan McKay is one of the examples of two way prospects that have failed to succeed in the MLB.
Outside of Smith and Ohtani, the history of success for two way prospects has been slim. The most famous example in recent history is Brendan McKay, who the Tampa Bay Rays selected fourth overall in the 2017 MLB Draft.
McKay was an excellent prospect coming into the draft at Louisville; he was a key contributor at the plate and on the mound. His average OPS in college was 0.903; his average ERA was 2.21. While in the minors, that dominance continued on the mound, but he struggled at the plate. In 2018, his OPS was only .727 and in 2019 only .629. For those same seasons, he had a 2.41 ERA and a 1.10 ERA in respectively.
Once McKay got up to the MLB, he really struggled. The Rays only gave him 11 plate appearances for his bat, but in 11 starts, he pitched for a 5.88 ERA. Subsequently, McKay’s MLB career was plagued with several injuries. He had surgeries in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024. He has not been in the MLB since.
There are some other examples of potential two way players currently in the MLB. Jac Caglianone of the Kansas City Royals was a two way player in college, but the Royals have not been too interested in testing that skillset in the majors yet. Bryce Rainer of the Detroit Tigers used to be an accomplished pitcher in high school, but he is looking more like a shortstop at the next level. Similarly, Carson Benge of the New York Mets has a two way skillset, but the Mets want to have him focus on being a five-tool outfielder.
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