Joe Smith
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />
As of now, his story has been sort of a mystery, being very hard to find.
What we know from his high school days is that he had shoulder surgery in his senior year. In fact, he didn’t even play freshman year ball. He was a sophomore at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Wright State University when he took the field.
He really didn’t even have a spot either, he walked in for tryouts,
More impressive is his velocity. When he started, he was ¾ armslot that had mid to high 80’s guy. His coach lowered his arm slot to the side and now he is a high 80’s to low 90’s fastballer.
His ERA in college was a .75 which would led division 1 (he didn’t have enough inning in order to qualify)
After the Draft, last year he played for Brooklyn and Binghamton. In Brooklyn his ERA was sub 1 and in Binghamton sub 6.
With no Chad Bradford, he looks to be a crucial spot for the Mets pen this year if he makes the team. One thing he has on his side is his age. At the young age of 22, the Mets hope to train and perfect him into a bullpen machine.
When you look at the long run, a 22 year old Burgos and Smith look to make the Mets formable and deep in years to come.
From Baseball America and milb.com
