Chris Smith, Perseverance in Pitching from High School to Yankees - Part 1

• Chris & classmate Adam Duvall @ Butler High School in Louisville. Both made the Varsity team in their sophomore year
• 4 years at Kentucky Wesleyan    played as a position player but later became a closing pitcher
• Lake Erie Crushers in Avon – Chris was 6th pick out of 350 players for workout
• No pressure – by the way you are now starting in the 10th inning &  a Grand Slam against Chris
• Independent ball is cut throat – not much room for player talent development
• Chris returns to Louisville as a fitness consultant & freshman baseball coach  @ Butler High School
• Chris’ goal & vision for his career changes as new opportunities arise
• Traverse City Beach Bums later call Chris back to the game. 
• The Bums had called up 42 pitchers to try out for 12 spots. 
• Training was brutal but . . . 
• Chris gets a tap on the shoulder. He is being cut by the Bums and he returns home.
• A turbulent Red Radar flight in a matchbox plane – next stop Pecos League
• White Sands Pupfish & Motel 6
• Bring your own uniform pants
• Chris’ Professional baseball contract  - $0  salary
   Some players were paying $350 to play with the Pupfish
• Chris delivers 13 punchouts – bonus payouts
  Washington Wild Things in 2011
• Chris Dugan, Observer Reporter puts Chris on the Wild Things Dream Team.
• Chris @ 2nd pitching start with the Wild Things  – parents in the stands.   First 6 batters get on base and score. Turning point in Chris’ career - Darin Everson, Pitching Coach & Manager visits Chris on the mound and helps him turn it around.
• Tampa Bay Rays  - strong tryout throwing 92 –to 95 and striking out 4 of 5 batters at Charlotte
• Spring Training, Bubbles & Chopping Blocks
• Chris continues to expand his game traveling on a 16 hour flight to Brisbane to play in Australian Baseball League
• Chris throws his first No-Hitter in Australia, ABL
• Field Announcer counts down each strikeout as Chris pitches another strikeout record
• Houston Astros come a courting
• Chris accepts contract with New York Yankees 
• Chris' journey into Major League Part 2 coming soon

BaseballBiz can be found on iheartradio, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify & Google podcasts &
@TheBaseballBiz on Twitter 
Please like, subscribe and remark. Let us know your thoughts about the show.
Special thanks to XTaKeRuX for the music "Rocking Forward"

Research sources included:
Wild Things Dream Team: : Chris Dugan, Observer-Reporter.com

Chris Smith Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Smith_(pitcher,_born_1988)

Chris Smith on Baseball Reference
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=smith-011chr