Bison pitcher drafted by Cincinnati Reds
Lipscomb Athletics |
Lipscomb right-handed pitcher Josh Smith was drafted in the 21st round by the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday afternoon in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
Smith, a fifth-year senior from Margate, Fla., was named to the A-Sun All-Conference First Team as a starting pitcher. He went 8-4 with a 4.66 earned run average. Smith tossed four complete games including a string of three straight.
He ranked fourth nationally in the regular season for strikeouts with 124. He struck out more than 100 batters in each of the last two seasons. Smith set the Lipscomb NCAA-era record for strikeouts in a game with 15 against ETSU on Mar. 26. He tied the record a week later against Illinois State.
Smith was the 637th player taken overall and the only Bison taken through the first two days of the draft.
Career Highlights
2009: Only returning pitcher from the 2009 weekend rotation. …2009 Baseball AmericaSummer Top Prospects member after posting 3-1 record in Florida Collegiate Summer League. ...Rated 29th in NCAA Division I in hits allowed per nine innings (7.1). …Finished 32nd in NCAA Division I in strikeouts (101.1). …Ranked 42nd nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (10.25). …First overall in Atlantic Sun in strikeouts looking (35). …Tied for second in A-Sun overall in wins (7). …Third overall in A-Sun both opponent’s batting average (.213) and strikeouts (101). …Fourth in innings pitched overall in A-Sun (88.2). …Sixth in earned run average overall in A-Sun (3.66). …In A-Sun games only ranked fourth in opponent’s batting average (.224) and strikeouts (75). …Tied for second in strikeouts caught looking (23). …Sixth in A-Sun games only in innings pitched (65). …Seventh in earned run average (3.60). …Twice finished in double figures in strikeouts in a game with 11 vs. Stetson (3/22) and 10 at ETSU (5/15). ...Did not have a complete game, but pitched eight innings twice (at Mercer, 3/8; and at Kennesaw State, 4/4). …Tied for first on team in games started (14). ...Second on team in innings pitched (882.) and strikeouts (101).
2008:Fifth in A-Sun Tournament in pitching with 1.29 ERA. ...Started one tournament game against Campbell, pitched seven innings and won 8-2 with seven hits and three strikeouts. ... Made 15 appearances, startitng eight games. ...Threw one complete game. ...Third on team in opposing batting average (.278). ...Tied for fifth in wins with three. ...Fourth in innings pitched (66.2). ...Fourth in games started with eight. ...Tied for team season high in strikeouts in a game (12) vs. Campbell (5/16) in complete game 6-1 win. ...Finished with 3-3 record.
2007: Redshirt
2006: Third on the team in earned run average at 5.35. ...Tied for fourth on the team in wins with three. ...Second on the team in innings pitched with 79... Tied for first in games started with 14. ... First on the team in opposing batting average at .262. ... Second on the team in strikeouts with 63. ... Fourth on the team in won loss percentage at .333. ...Tied for third on the team in appearances with 18. ...Tied for second in batters struck out looking (17). ...Season high nine innings against ETSU (3/12), an 8-3 win, one of two complete games. ...Season high 11 strikeouts vs. ETSU (3/12).
High School: Prepped at Grandview Prep Academy in Margate, Fla. ...Named MVP of team during senior season. ...Also tabbed 2nd team All-State.
Personal: Majoring in Exercise Science. ...Son of Debbie and Fred Smith. ...Chose to attend Lipscomb because of the coaching staff. ...Also recruited by Broward Community College and East Tennessee State.