Sports · Baseball · 3 hrs ago
Boston Smith Hits 31 Home Runs in Breakout Season Before Joining Seattle
Boston Smith hit 31 home runs in 2026, his second season as a professional baseball player.
The 23-year-old catcher played mainly in High-A and Double-A, finishing with a .274 batting average and a .424 on-base percentage over 493 plate appearances.
He moved through three organizations after Washington drafted him in 2025: it traded him to the White Sox, who later sent him to Seattle.
Seattle acquired Smith at the trade deadline in a deal that sent pitcher Luis Castillo to the Mariners' former trading partner.
Smith is now playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, where he caught prospect Kade Anderson shortly after joining Seattle.
He ranks 13th among Mariners prospects, though a scouting assessment says his defense behind the plate needs work.
Boston Smith hit 31 home runs during a breakout 2026 season across three levels of the minor leagues.
The 23-year-old catcher posted a .274/.424/.566 batting line and a 158 wRC+ over 493 plate appearances.
Seattle acquired Smith from the Chicago White Sox at the summer trade deadline as part of a deal for Luis Castillo.
Smith was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the 2025 draft and traded twice before joining Seattle.
He is playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.
- Who
- Boston Smith, a 23-year-old left-handed-hitting catcher.
- What
- He hit 31 home runs in 2026 and was traded to Seattle at the summer deadline.
- When
- During the 2026 season; the trade took place at the summer trade deadline.
- Where
- Smith played across three minor-league levels and joined the Seattle Mariners organization.
- Why
- The sources do not state why Seattle acquired Smith specifically.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Washington selected Smith in the sixth round out of Wright State University.
Washington traded Smith to the White Sox for Curtis Mead.
Chicago traded Smith, Seranthony Domínguez and Nolan Jones to Seattle for Luis Castillo.
Smith hit 31 home runs over 493 plate appearances while playing at three levels.
Smith joined the Peoria Javelinas.
- Home runs
- 31 in 2026
- Batting line
- .274/.424/.566
- Plate appearances
- 493
- wRC+
- 158
- Draft selection
- Sixth round, 2025
- Seattle trade return
- Luis Castillo
What people are saying
I don’t get too nervous anymore, but I was very nervous to catch him.
I wanted to be trustworthy and help him succeed
He was by far one of the most mature human beings I’ve ever been around.
He had this fire in him.