Center fielder Stewart Smothers had gotten by his first two seasons at San Diego State using his tremendous athletic ability to put up some decent numbers. This year, with a more honed aspect to his game, he’s on pace to reach career highs in every offensive category. Yet, there is still the possibility of more.

“His potential is unlimited,” assistant coach Jim Warner said. “He’s still trying to figure out the game and has many things to learn.”

One thing he has had to learn this year is how to be a productive lead-off hitter. He was used sparingly his first two seasons and mostly near the bottom of the lineup. This season he was inserted at the top of the order on opening day and has remained there since.

“I like leading off,” Smothers said. “I like getting the team started, whether it’s laying down a bunt or hitting a triple. I like to make things happen.”

Being at the top of the order has been difficult at times for Smothers, who admittedly is a free swinger. A lead-off hitter must be disciplined to take more pitches and try to get on base by any means necessary.

He has been productive. Entering this weekend’s series against San Jose State with a .321 batting average, he leads the team with 22 stolen bases, and his 41 runs rate him second on the team.

But Smothers still needs to improve on his .363 on-base percentage. The average lead-off hitter usually gets on base 40 percent of the time he comes to the plate.

An easy way for him to improve his on-base percentage would be to draw walks. He rates near the bottom on the team with only nine bases on balls this season.

“We are working with him to go deeper into counts,” head baseball coach Jim Dietz said. “We need him to take more pitches and draw a few more walks. He’s getting better at it, and I’m sure he will continue to improve.”

The Aztecs will need Smothers on base this weekend when they travel to San Jose for a key Western Athletic Conference matchup with the Spartans. SDSU trails SJSU by 2.5 games in the Western Division. The Spartans took two of three games in a series back in March at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

“If you look at our stats, as he goes, our whole team goes,” Warner said. “We tend to do well when he is on base two or three times.”

Last weekend’s series against Fresno State was a perfect example. The first two games, Smothers got on base and made things happen, and the Aztecs won. The third game of the series, Smothers went 0 for 6, and SDSU lost 9-7.

The 5-foot-11 junior also realizes his importance to the team this weekend, knowing a spark at the top of the lineup could spur his team on to victory.

“I know that I need to get on base,” Smothers said. “I have to be aggressive on the base paths and be in scoring position when the big guys come up to bat.”

Chosen SDSU’s Most Improved Player after last season, Smothers showed a flair for the dramatic in a WAC pennant chase. Smothers said he “turned and burned” on a pitch for a three-run, game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning last season against FSU.

“That has to be my most memorable moment here for a couple of reasons,” Smothers said. “It was on my grandpa’s birthday and we were still in the WAC pennant chase.”

His heroics were not enough. The Aztecs fell out of WAC championship contention late last season. Smothers hopes this year’s team will be different and hold on to make the playoffs.

“I have never been to the playoffs, not even in high school, so I really want to get to the WAC playoffs,” said Smothers, who prepped at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad. “Then, after that, it would be nice to make it to the NCAA Regionals.”

The WAC baseball tournament will be held here at SDSU at Tony Gwynn Stadium, a place where Smothers feels very comfortable. He has made several highlight reel catches this season at the new ballpark.

“I think I’m pretty good at covering the ground out there,” Smothers said. “Some of the balls I don’t get to, and some of the others I get to that I shouldn’t.”

The SDSU coaching staff loves to talk about Smothers, his awesome athletic ability and where his potential can take him.

“It’s amazing to see how far he has come in three years,” Warner said. “He has busted his butt to get here and continues to improve daily.

“The kid is gonna be good.”