The Joe Smith Journey

23 year old Joe Smith had his major league debut in last nights opener against the cardnals. In last nights game Smith came in the 8th and gave up a hit, a walk, and struck out one. He threw 8 of his 12 pitches for strikes. Joe Smith has had some journey to get to this point.

Smith was born and grew up in Cincinati, Ohio. He went to Amerlia High School and recieved three varsity letters. Smith might have been a better high school basketball player than baseball player in high school. Smith averaged 20.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. During the baseball season, Smith had arm surgery, in his senior year, which made him sit out the entire season.

Joe Smith enrolled at Wright State without a scholarship and was cut from the team as a freshman. He came back as a sophmore with a sidearm delivery and was 6-5 with a 1.53 ERA and 22 saves in 80 games during his college career. As a junior, Smith was named the Horizon League Pitcher of the year and earned All-Mideast Regional Second Team with a leading 13 saves while striking out 63 batters and walking just 16.

Smith was selected by the New York Mets in the third round of the 2006 First Year Player Draft. He began his professional career with the Brooklyn Cyclones (A) of the New York-Penn League. He pitched very wll allowing just a run over a stretch of 19 innings. He also had a league leading 9 saves. Smith was named one of the top 20 prospects in the New York-Penn League by Baseball America. Smith was promoted to the Binghamton Mets (AA) of the Eastern League pn August 1 and has not looked back since. I'm expecting big things from you Joe Smith.