Cade Smith ranks among California summer league's best

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Smith remains the most common name in the United States.

There were 2,442,977 people name Smith, that’s 828.2 per 100,000 people, according to a 2018 survey.

There was not anything ordinary or common or routine about RHP Cade Smith who pitched in California Collegiate League this summer.

RHP Smith (Abbotsford, BC), who spent last spring pitching for the University of Hawaii Rainbows was 3-3 with a 3.67 mark in 10 games -- eight starts -- in the summer college league. He had two complete games and one shut out. He was ranked 23rd on the top 25 list.

After six outings Smith had a team-leading 23, with a 3.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts for the Catch when he earned mid-season all-star honours. On July 18th, Smith threw one inning, giving up one run on one hit for the Americans squad. He was ranked as the No. 8 CCL pitching prospect and is one of just three players in the top-10 who doesn’t compete in a power five conference, according to the Rainbows website (https://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2018/7/19/hawai-i-baseball-with-three-summer-league-all-stars.aspx).

The former Chilliwack Cougar, who pitched for coaches Scott Pankratz and Shawn Corness, walked 10 and struck out 32 in 34 1/3 innings to earn a ranking in Perfect Game’s top prospect list from the California Collegiate League.

Drafted by Minnesota Twins scout Walt Burrows (Brentwood Bay, BC), in the 16th round, Smith also pitched for the Canadian Junior National Team and coach Greg Hamilton (Ottawa, Ont.).

In his freshman season pitching for Hawaii in the BigWest conference, Smith was 1-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 13 games (six starts). He walked 11 and struck out 37 in 39 innings.

With Chilliwack he earned 2017 College Prep League Provincial Final MVP and was named to the all-tournament team at T12, held at the Rogers Centre.

At the 2017 U18 World Cup championship, he allowed one strikeout with four hits and a walk in three innings of relief, as Canada defeated Australia 8-2.

Perfect Game

California Collegiate League

Top 25 Prospects

Rank Player Pos. B-T HT WT Hometown St/Prov School YR Class Last Drafted

1. Caleb Sloan RHP R-R 6-3 215 Centennial CO TCU SO 2020 Never drafted

23. Cade Smith RHP R-R 6-5 210 Abbotsford BC Hawaii SO 2020 Twins ‘17 (16)