Pavin Smith grew up in Jupiter, rooted for Marlins but now plays for Diamondbacks

MIAMI — As a kid, Pavin Smith would play Whiffle Ball in the picnic-table area during Miami Marlins spring training games at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Eventually, he started smacking the ball too far.

“Then, we got a little too old, and we were hitting it on the field,” Smith said. “So we stopped.”

Now an outfielder/first baseman with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Smith is doing damage in big league ballparks. The Jupiter native and Palm Beach Gardens High School graduate hit a two-run, ninth-inning homer off reliever Anthony Bender Wednesday afternoon to hand the Marlins an 8-7 loss and complete the sweep at loanDepot Park.

Smith also connected on a solo home run off Trevor Rogers on Tuesday in Arizona’s 5-4 win.

Gallen gets Jazz: Jazz Chisholm-Zac Gallen trade working out for Marlins, Diamondbacks

Stetson product excels for Mariners: Stetson's Logan Gilbert one of MLB's rising young pitching stars

“Pavin has been doing a great job for us, playing just about every day for us in right field,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said earlier in the week. “He came through our system as a very good hitter, and we’ve watched him turn into the same type of player at the big league-level.”

After being a key contributor on the University of Virginia’s 2015 College World Series title team, Smith was taken seventh overall by the D-backs in the 2017 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020, and is becoming a regular this season.

“He’s learned a lot over the past year and a half, since arriving at the big leagues,” Lovullo said. “He’s been a very consistent at-bat, and a very consistent performer for us.”

Smith, 26, has the tools to become an impactful big-league hitter. He showed that on Tuesday against one of the toughest lefties in the National League. The home run off Rogers, according to Statcast, traveled 415 feet, and had an exit velocity of 107.7 mph.

Rogers broke into the big leagues in 2020, and he was an All-Star in 2021. He had never surrendered a home run to a left-handed hitter until Smith’s no-doubter in the third inning.

Both home runs were special since Smith had family and friends at the park. Smith now makes Chandler, Ariz., his year-round home, but his family still lives in Jupiter. His wife’s family lives in Orlando, and they made their way to Miami for the series.

Coming back to his home state is always fun for Smith.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said in an interview with The Post. “Just getting off the plane and being able to smell the salt in the air. It brings back some memories. I was a Marlins’ fan growing up, so I went to the other park, and I’ve been to this one, too.”

Smith’s baseball roots stem back to his days as a child, rooting on the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins, who then played at Hard Rock Stadium. The organization rebranded as the Miami Marlins in 2012, the year loanDepot park opened.

“I grew up liking Miguel Cabrera and that whole ’03 team, with [Josh] Beckett and Derrek Lee,” Smith said.

He also was a fan of Juan Pierre, and in 2005, Carlos Delgado, spending his lone season with the Marlins. In 2013, Smith attended a World Baseball Classic game at loanDepot park. He also recalls watching the Marlins face the San Francisco Giants with Madison Bumgarner starting. Bumgarner, a three-time World Series champion with the Giants, is now with the D-backs and started Wednesday's game.

“I’ve told him about that before,” Smith said. “He had the long hair then and stuff.”

When not actually at Marlins’ games, Smith would watch daily the TV telecasts, listening to announcers Rich Waltz and Tommy Hutton. Waltz is no longer with the Marlins. But he has been substituting as the play-by-play voice for Arizona this series. Hutton, meanwhile, has been an analyst for Marlins’ telecasts on Bally Sports Florida.

The Marlins have always literally been close to Smith, who grew up about five minutes from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. He would frequently go to Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals spring training games.

When the MLB season started, the local focus turned to minor league ball. Smith would see his share of Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals games. Smith used to play on the backfields of the complex in Perfect Game events. Independence Middle School, where he went to, is a short walk to the park. Smith developed into a standout pitcher/first baseman at Palm Beach Gardens, also the alma mater of former Marlins’ pitcher Chris Volstad.

Now, he’s back as a big leaguer facing the club he rooted for growing up.

“You dream about this your whole life, especially coming to Florida and playing,” Smith said. “It’s definitely a special feeling, coming to this stadium. Coming to Marlins’ games.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Pavin Smith's ninth-inning homer gives Diamondbacks sweep of Marlins