Blake Smith

Blake Matthew Smith

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 220 lb.
• School University of California
• High School Thomas Downey High School
• Debut September 10, 2016
• Final Game September 21, 2016
• Born December 9, 1987 in Modesto, CA USA

BR page

Biographical information

Blake Smith was MVP of the 2008 World University Championship.

As a high school junior, Smith hit .438 and stole 13 bases in 13 tries. As a senior, he hit .412 with a .721 OBP. Moving on to college, he batted .320/.381/.500 and was 1-0 with a save and a 4.22 ERA in 16 mound appearances as a freshman. He was honorable mention All-Pacific-10 Conference. He was 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 10 games that summer for the Alexandria Beetles.

In 2008, Blake batted .296/.360/.553 with 12 home runs. On the mound, he was 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA and struck out 36 in 21 1/3 IP. He joined Team USA for the summer. In the 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week, he hit .286/.474/.500 and saved one game. He scored two of the four US runs in their Gold Medal game win over Cuba. In the 2008 World University Championship, Smith won MVP honors, hitting .357/.514/.679 with 8 runs and 10 RBI in 8 games and striking out 2 of 3 batters he faced. He was 7th in slugging in the event, 4th in OBP, 6th in runs, tied with 3 others for second in RBI behind Keijiro Matsumoto, led with 8 walks and tied for second with 2 home runs. The US won Gold; in the finale, Smith was 0 for 5 with 4 strikeouts against Japan.

Smith hit .319/~.386/.529 as a junior; on the mound, he was 0-1 with 2 saves and a 5.85 ERA, fanning 26 in 20 innings. He was All-Conference in the Pac-10 as the DH.

The Los Angeles Dodgers took Smith in the 2nd round of the 2009 amateur draft, the 56th overall pick. He was signed by scout Fred Costello for $643,500 and made his pro debut that summer, hitting .214 in 36 games between the AZL Dodgers and Ogden Raptors. Seven years later, he made it to the major leagues but as a pitcher with the Chicago White Sox in 2016. He had no decisions and an ERA of 6.23 in 5 outings in relief.

Smith was the MVP of the Panamanian winter league in 2011.

Smith moved from the outfield to the mound in 2014.

Sources

• University of California
• 2008 Haarlem Baseball Week
• 2008 World University Championship final report

Related Sites

• Blake Smith on mlb.com
• BR Minors page