Smith Drafted by Cleveland Indians
CLU alumni continue careers
Garrett Smith is the 23rd player out of Cal Lutheran to be drafted by a MLB team and is the second to be selected by the Clevenand Indians.
Photo: Tracy MapleNEW YORK, N.Y. –On the final day of the 2013 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft Cal Lutheran graduate Garrett Smith ’13 was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 37th Round to become the 23rd CLU draft pick in school history.
Smith, who produced the best season of his four-year collegiate career this spring, is no stranger to the realm of professional baseball as he grew up with his father, Steve, managing and coaching in both the minor and major leagues.
The Cal Lutheran second baseman earned Second Team All-SCIAC and Third Team ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region accolades after a stellar senior season. He started 40 games at second base and appeared in 43 total contests this year. Defensively, Smith was part of 16 double-plays with 78 putouts and 100 assists.
Offensively he was primarily the number nine batter and hit at a .350 clip with 50 hits, including eight doubles, three triples and two homeruns, driving in 43 runs for the Kingsmen. Smith reached base 70 total times with 12 walks as he was hit by eight pitches. Once aboard, he was a threat on the bases, going 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts and came around to score 34 runs for the Violet and Gold.
During the season he strung together a 13-game hit streak and at one point reached base safely in 18 straight. Smith finished with 13 multi-hit games and turned in 12 multi-RBI performances. Smith was an integral part of the 2013 SCIAC championship and SCIAC Post Season Tournament title as the Kingsmen finished 35-9-1 after competing in the West Regionals in Austin, Tex.
Smith is the fourth CLU second baseman drafted, joining David Iden (2009), Brian Skaug (2003) and the first Kingsmen player to be drafted into MLB, Robert Fulewider (1969). He is the second player to come out of Cal Lutheran and be selected by the Cleveland Indians, following the footsteps of right handed pitcher Tom Canale (’00) who went in the 10th round that year.
Also slated to play baseball with a major league organization in the immediate future is Spencer Trygg (’12) who recently signed a contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after a stint playing independent ball with the Callan Thunder (Tex.) last year. Trygg was a three-year letter winner for the Kingsmen and threw 47.0 innings in 37 appearances for a 4-2 record with one save. He struck out 35 batters in three seasons.
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