An appearance in the Futures Game and being named to the Eastern League South All-Star squad are the candles in the cake of Sean Smith’s “coming out party.”
It should come as no surprise, as the right-hander is finally beginning to tap into his talent that earned him a 1.1 million dollar signing bonus out of Sacramento City College in 2002.
Drafted in the 16th round of 2001 out of College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, California, Smith put aside his shortstop aspirations to concentrate on his stronger pitching prospects.
The decision turned out to be wise, as he routinely hit 94 on scout’s radar guns during his freshman year at Sacramento City College, prompting the Indians to sign the draft-and-follow prior to the 2002 June draft.
Since inking his first contract, Smith has made a methodical climb through the ranks of the Cleveland Indians farm system.
The hurler went 24-16, 3.68 in his first four campaigns, which included multiple tours of duty with the low-A Lake County Captains and the Advanced-A Kinston Indians.
The 2003 season saw Smith notch 11 victories in helping the Lake County Captains to the South Atlantic League championship series.
In 2005, Smith ranked fifth in the Indians organization with 120 strikeouts while hurling for Kinston.
After returning to Kinston to start the 2006 season and going 1-2, 3.60 in four starts, Smith burst onto the prospect scene by reeling off eight consecutive victories upon his promotion to Double-A Akron. The young right-hander claimed Eastern League Pitcher of the Week honors for May 8-14, en route to posting a 4-0, 0.88 mark for the month of May.
Smith cooled off some by July, but continued to hold Eastern League hitters to a .245 average after 18 starts.
He has proven to be a workhorse, averaging just over six innings pitched in his first 18 starts for Akron.
“Sean has been making more efficient use of his fastball and not shying away from contact,” said Indians farm director John Farrell earlier this year. “He’s pitching with a lot more confidence now.”
Smith compliments his average fastball (88-90 mph) with a cutter, curveball and change. The righty projects to be a middle of the rotation type starter, with three average pitches and fair overall command. His cutter and changeup should be his out-pitches at the major league level.
Smith’s breakout season puts the 22-year-old on the brink of a major league call-up within the next year and number 27 in our Fab 50 for 2006.
- C.J. CARLSON
