Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks 2024 Player Review: Pavin Smith
This article is part of a series chronicling the individual seasons of players who appeared for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024.
Reviews for players who still have rookie eligibility for 2025 will appear in our prospect season reviews. Players are presented in the reverse order of their aWAR, an average of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs WAR.
2024 Contract Status: Pre-Arb, $509K Prorated from $740K League Minimum
Pavin Smith has come a long way since his original drafting by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1st round of the 2017 draft. He was picked 7th overall, and along with that came monumental expectations.
Smith hasn’t lived up to that bar by any means to this point in his career, but he’s certainly has an interesting path to get to where he was entering 2024. Then things seemed to take a turn, and where things stand today, he may have finally taken a step into the spotlight.
His status as a heavily bat oriented player, who finds himself playing corner outfield and first base exclusively, kept Smith in the minor leagues to start the season. His season debut came on April 19th in San Fransisco.
Going into the year the lefty batter had a career OPS+ of 91, clocking in at 9% below league average. Between that April 19th debut, however, until he was optioned down to Reno once more, Pavin Smith totaled a .268 batting average, with a solid .829 OPS.
These numbers were solid, but were not enough to force his way onto the roster. With a logjam in the outfield, and Christian Walker holding the fort at first base, Smith would primarily patrol the field in Reno until his ascent back to the big leagues on August 19th.
This callup seemed to change things in a big way for Smith. His approach at the plate always found him at bats, and this would be his key going forward.
“I’m where I’m supposed to be”
– Pavin Smith
Smith took off after his callup, seemingly making an impact every time he stepped into the batters box. His stats backed this tremendously.
In a 31 game sample size his On Base Percentage soared to .378, helped in large part to a fantastic 15.6% walk rate in that span. Smith’s slugging percentage also reached .595, with 12 of his 20 hits going for extra bases, and 6 of those leaving the yard.
Things were truly clicking in Pavin Smith’s bat and it was not a fluke. In 2024 He had a babip of .280, only .010 points higher than his .270 battings average leaving little projection of regression.
Smith’s season peaked with a magical three homer game in Houston, including a grand slam, announcing himself on the national stage, and proving himself deserving of his roster spot. His season finished with a 145 OPS+, up 55 points above his career mark to that point.
Pavin Smith’s future role with the Diamondbacks has become much more critical moving into the 2025 season. Christian Walker, and Josh Bell are Free Agents, with the former demanding a large price tag connected with a potential return.
Smith is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. He is estimated to earn approximately $1.6 million in 2025 according our Diamondbacks payroll projections.
Smith can play first base, and its almost certain that he will see regular reps at the big league level next season. He has played himself into a job, and his performance in 2024 will have an impact in the teams dealings this off-season.
Smith is rated as a below average defender in total, but most of those negative numbers have come while playing the outfield. Playing first base, however, he is rated as exactly zero runs above average for his career (613 innings) by both Baseball Reference’s DRS and Statcast’s OAA.
Those defensive numbers don’t compare to Christian Walker’s incredible 10 Fielding Run Value and National League Leading 13 Outs Above Average.
Pavin Smith had an incredible 2024 season which proved that he has the talent at a major league level that the Diamondbacks dreamed upon 7 years ago when they drafted him. Now he will get a chance to back his breakout season up in a full years campaign in 2025.
The No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks (21-7, 11-4 Big 12) visit the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats (26-2, 13-2) Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. ET (ESPN) tip from McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NCAA basketball odds around the Kansas vs. Arizona odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Kansas got back in the win column on Monday with a 69-56 victory over Houston, covering as a 2.5-point home underdog with the Under (137.5) hitting. G Tre White led all scorers with 23 points while F Bryson Tiller (11 points, 10 rebounds) added a double-double in the much-needed victory after the Jayhawks had dropped 2 of their previous 3.
Arizona has won 3 in a row after taking down Baylor 87-80 on Tuesday, narrowly failing to cover as a 7.5-point road favorite with the Over (154.5) hitting. G Jaden Bradley scored a team-high 25 points, G Brayden Burries added 24, and F Tobe Awaka (10 points, 13 rebounds) added a double-double.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch NCAA basketball on Fubo!
Kansas at Arizona odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 9:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Kansas +400 (bet $100 to win $500) | Arizona -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Kansas +9.5 (-110) | Arizona -9.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 149.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Kansas at Arizona picks and predictions
Prediction
Arizona 76, Kansas 69
PASS.
There is minimal value on the Wildcats (-550) to win at home on Saturday against a Jayhawks team that is 5-4 on the road this season.
BET KANSAS +9.5 (-110).
The Jayhawks are 18-10 ATS this season, including 9-3 ATS over their last 12. They are 3-1 ATS over their last 4 on the road, as well, and are coming off a massive win over No. 5 Houston to build momentum heading into another tough contest.
The Wildcats have failed to cover in 4 of their last 5 games, including each of their last 4 as favorites and back-to-back games at home.
With a near double-digit spread, the advantage belongs to the road squad.
BET UNDER 149.5 (-105).
The Wildcats have hit the Under in 7 of their last 10 games, including 3 of their last 4. They have scored 78 or fewer points in 4 of their last 5 games while allowing 68 or fewer in 5 of their last 10, including 2 of their last 3.
The Jayhawks have hit a 19-9 Under record this season and have also hit the Under in 7 of their last 10. They have scored 69 or fewer points in 3 of their last 4 while allowing 75 or fewer in 7 of their last 10.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
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Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers
11-18-39-43-67, Mega Ball: 23
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers
7-7-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers
16-19-20-26-37
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Triple Twist numbers
11-15-24-25-28-30
Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results
What time is the Powerball drawing?
Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?
In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.
How to play the Powerball
To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.
You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.
To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:
- 5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
- 5 white balls = $1 million.
- 4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
- 4 white balls = $100.
- 3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
- 3 white balls = $7.
- 2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
- 1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
- 1 red Powerball = $4.
There’s a chance to have your winnings increased two, three, four, five and 10 times through the Power Play for an additional $1 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:
Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.
Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.
PHOENIX – Officials with the Arizona Game and Fish Department said unseasonably warm temperatures in the state will increase risks for rattlesnake encounters.
What they’re saying:
In a statement released on Feb. 27, the agency said while rattlesnakes are most active in desert areas from March through October, they “may appear earlier in the year as warming temperatures bring them out of winter hibernation.”
“During the spring, it’s common for rattlesnakes to be out during daylight hours,” read a portion of the statement. “As the days become increasingly hot, rattlesnakes tend to move around more at night.”
What you can do:
Officials said there are things people can do to keep themselves safe, including:
- Step back and let a rattlesnake move away if you see one on a trail
- Be mindful of where you place your feet and hands, because rattlesnakes can easily blend in with their surroundings
- Carry a flashlight at night, especially on warmer nights when rattlesnakes can be most active
- Clean up yard debris and reduce standing water near homes, in order to avoid attracting rattlesnakes
- Stay on marked trails, as rattlesnakes encounters are more likely to occur when a person leaves a marked trail
Game and Fish officials said people should do the following if someone was bitten by a rattlesnake:
- Remain calm
- Reassure the victim
- Call 911 and seek medical attention without delay
- Remove all jewelry and watches from the affected area
- Immobilize the extremity, and keep it below the heart
- Decrease total body activity, as feasible
The Source: Information for this article was gathered from a statement released by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.
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