- Chris & classmate Adam Duvall @ Butler High School in Louisville. Both made the Varsity team in their sophomore year
- 4 years at Kentucky Wesleyan played transitioned to Closing Pitcher
- Lake Erie Crushers in Avon – Chris was 6th pick out of 350 players @ 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 Fitness consultant & as freshman baseball coach @ Butler High School
- Chris’ goal & vision for his career changes as new opportunities arise
- Travis 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 made the team.
- 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 experience
- Bring your own uniform pants
- Chris’ first professional baseball contract with the White Sands Pupfish - $0 salary
- Some players were paying $350 the team to play
- Chris delivers 13 punchouts = bonus payouts - pass the hat for performance
- 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
- More to come in Part 2 of this interview
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: https://observer-reporter.com/sports/pro_sports/wild_things/choosing-a-wild-things-dream-team/article_3a6137b8-c831-11ec-a85a-f3524eaa9f46.html
Chris Smith Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Smith_(pitcher,_born_1988)
Chris Smith on Baseball Reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Smith_(pitcher,_born_1988)