Smith plans hot summer with ’Cats
Jack Smith of the Victoria HarbourCats has 2020 vision.
It was a dream come true to be selected by the hometown Seattle Mariners in the 2017 MLB draft. But he opted instead for a scholarship offer in the Pac-12 with the Washington State Cougars, in the hopes of improving from his position in the 39th round, to a better round when he can re-enter the MLB draft following his NCAA junior year in 2020.
“I grew up five minutes from Safeco Field, and it was a special feeling to be picked by the Mariners, but I want to be more of a top prospect,” said the graduate of Mercer Island High School, about his decision.
“I had a great freshman year at Washington State on a team with a lot of seniors [Smith hit .247 in 28 appearances, 15 as a starter]. A scholarship is basically a job and I learned a lot about travel and balancing school work. I take pride in wanting to help get a program that has been down, and not doing so well, turned around and back to Omaha [for the annual NCAA College World Series].”
Smith, batting .250 for Victoria (2-2), started the first three games of the season and got his first bit of rest in Tuesday night’s West Coast League game at Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park against the Yakima Valley Pippins. He subbed in late at first base and flew out in his only at-bat as the HarbourCats defeated the Pippins (2-2) by a 6-3 count before 1,431 fans.
Victoria starter Samuel Brunning went four scoreless innings, allowing no hits with three strikeouts but five walks. Despite that effort, it was Garrison Ritter who picked up the win for his inning of work in the fifth, giving up two hits and two runs, one earned, with a walk and strikeout. Sixfoot-three reliever Gunner Friend got the save by pitching the ninth inning with two hits allowed and a run. The ’Cats’ hitting was led by Trey Bigford, who had a hit, run and RBI, and Jeddediah Fagg of Georgia Southern with a double and two runs scored.
It isn’t lost on anybody in the Pac-12, nor the collegiate summer league WCL, that former Bend Elks star and 2015 WCL first-team all-star Nick Madrigal was selected fourth overall this week in the first round of the 2018 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox, out of the Oregon State Beavers.
Smith and the other WCL hopefuls in the league this summer know that is rarefied company and that the first few rounds are out of reach for all but the bluechippers and sure things such as Magrigal. (Former HarbourCats third-baseman Michael Gretler went in the 10th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates out of Oregon State).
Regardless of when he is picked in 2020, Smith also knows his versatility is a useful asset for any coaching staff. The six-footthree finance major is a willowy player who can man every infield position and hit DH and was one of three ’Cats players, along with Jaxxon Fagg and Gio Villanueva, to have appeared in all three games of the 2018 WCL seasonopening series against the Wenatchee AppleSox last weekend.
“With such great fans and the support we get in Victoria [the season opener against Wenatchee attracted 3,371 fans and Saturday’s game a WCL-record 5,420], you want to give 100 per cent every game,” said Smith.
He comes from a family of NCAA Div. 1 athletes who used their education well and now are successful in their civilian occupations. Brother Jordan Smith played tennis in the Pac-12 for Cal-Berkeley and sister Renata tennis for Johns Hopkins. Brother Henry was a national club champion in tennis. Those genes passed on well.
“My family is my role model,” said Jack Smith.
Meanwhile, Tyler Hilton from Mesa Community College is expected to get the start on the mound tonight for Victoria against the Pippins. Opening-day starter Ethan Fox of Campbell River is scheduled to start Thursday as the series culminates with a school day special morning start at 11 a.m., for which more than 2,500 school kids are expected to attend.
The HarbourCats host the B.C. senior men’s champions Coquitlam Angels for a two-game exhibition set Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at Wilson’s Group Stadium. Honourary coach for the set will be former Toronto Blue Jays great Kelly Gruber, the two-time AL all-star third-baseman, who rocked a mullet as part of the 1992 World Series-champion team. Fans can meet Gruber and get pictures taken with him.