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RHP/OF, 6’3” 185, B: L T: R
Northern Illinois’ RHP/OF Brian Smith is overcoming every baseball players nightmare, season-ending surgery to his throwing arm. However, Smith will be ready to go for his second campaign with the Mallards this summer after posting three wins with a 2.87 ERA in 59.2 IP and 36 strikeouts. Smith’s impressive productivity earned him a mid-season All-Star selection for his first year with the Mallards. Beginning his baseball playing days as a third baseman, Smith enjoyed watching George Brett play, but his interests of throwing off the mound intrigued him even more as he got older. “Roger Clemens, still to this day, is the guy I always love to watch. I can sum up my playing style as aggressive, especially pitching, and Clemens is an animal every time he is on the mound. I see that in his pitching, and to me, attitude is so important when it comes to pitching.” Smith said. With baseball being his main concern in high school, Smith also played on the Richards High basketball and golf teams. NBA star Dwayne Wade attended the same high school, and Smith had the chance to wear Wade’s old jersey. Considering his size, Smith decided baseball was the only sport for him, and therefore, led him to Northern Illinois University. “I went on so many recruiting trips and received the same presentations until I came to Northern Illinois. I related with the coaching style right off the bat. They believed in me and in what I could bring to the program. More importantly though, they were going to give me the opportunity to start as a freshman, which caught my attention,” Smith said. Smith wasted no time in having an impact for NIU. For his first collegiate hit, Smith blasted a home run against Eastern Kentucky, and on the mound, he took a no-hitter against Southern Illinois through 7.2 IP. Even though the no-hitter was gone, Smith got a complete game victory. Beyond missing his entire sophomore season with NIU due to injury, Smith is excited to get back with the Mallards and playing for Field Manager C.J. Thieleke. “I really like C.J., and playing for him last year was so much fun. He’s tense when it comes to game days, and so am I. No matter what, at any point, C.J. wants to win, and both of us relate on that same wavelength. He will give guys chances to play everyday and his anticipation for this season is getting the rest of us pumped up.” Smith is the type of pitcher that will work the inside on a regular basis and has developed a breaking ball that freezes batters. With the Mallards season just around the corner, he looks to finally get back to playing and help the club on both the mound and at the plate. “Last season, we lost so many one-run decisive games, and now that I feel I’m back being healthy, I want to help the Mallards turn that statistic into a positive one.” |
“I’m looking forward to just playing again this summer. It’s very important for me to get back to form, and everyday, I’m itching to get on the field. After such a long process I feel a hundred percent, especially while playing long toss, and hopefully, I can reach the point of expecting myself to get batters out.”