Kentucky Wesleyan outfielder and relief pitcher
Chris Smith signed a minor league contract to play for the Lake Erie Crushers of the independent Frontier League. He was a first-round draft choice and the overall and seventh selection.
Smith, a 6-foot-3, 220 pound senior from Louisville (Butler High School), batted .265 as he led the Panthers in triples (4) and stolen bases (12); finished second in at bats (155); third in RBIs (24) and runs scored (28); fourth in hits (41) and doubles (9) in starting all 46 games.
He also collected two home runs and posted a .979 fielding average with 88 putouts and five assists. On the mound as a closer, Smith led the team in appearances (15) and set a new KWC season save record (8). He picked up a third best five wins with 14 strikeouts in 15.2 innings pitched.
Smith completed his four-year tenure by setting three career records — most games played and starts (187) and saves (8).
His named is also etched in the record book for finishing tied for fourth in triples (6); tied for fifth in hits (164); tied for sixth in fielding assists (261); seventh in career total fielding chances (656); tied for eighth in runs scored (103); ninth in total bases (218).
In the classroom, he earned Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors. Smith graduated in mid-May with a bachelor of science degree in fitness and sports management.
Smith marks the second straight season a Panther has been drafted and signed to play in the Frontier League. He joins catcher Michael Graves of the Kalamzoo Kings.
