Right-handed pitcher Cade Smith turned down an offer from the Minnesota Twins and will honor a commitment to play for the University of Hawaii baseball team this coming academic year. ADVERTISING Right-handed pitcher Cade Smith turned down an offer from
Right-handed pitcher Cade Smith turned down an offer from the Minnesota Twins and will honor a commitment to play for the University of Hawaii baseball team this coming academic year.
Smith, a recent graduate of Mennonite Educational Institute in British Columbia, was one of three UH recruits selected in last month’s Major League Baseball draft. Infielder Johnny Homza (fifth round by the San Diego Padres) and pitcher Austin Rubick (20th round by the Milwaukee Brewers) decided to sign pro contracts. Smith’s decision to enroll at UH was finalized on Friday morning, the deadline to choose between the pros and college.
“I will be playing for Hawaii next year,” Smith wrote in a text to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “My family and I felt that it was clear that I should go to school and mature and develop — and I look forward to doing that.”
Smith plans to pursue a degree in the medical field.
“He’s a tremendous student,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “It’s a great fit because he’s pro-education. His family is pro-education. I think it’s the right decision for him, no question. It’s something that will allow him to grow emotionally and physically — although I don’t know if he can physically grow a whole lot more.”
Smith is 6 feet 5, 230 pounds, and capable of throwing a fastball 93 mph. He played for Canada’s junior national team last year.
“He is a beast,” Trapasso said of Smith’s hard-throwing style. “He’s got a great upside.”
Smith is following a familiar pattern. In 2008, the Twins also drafted Kolten Wong in the 16th round. Wong turned down the Twins’ offer, and then went to UH. The St. Louis Cardinals selected Wong in the first round of the 2011 draft.
Trapasso said Smith had indicated he would choose UH if he were not selected early in the 40-round draft. The Twins made an aggressive pitch last weekend. “We felt good about (Smith’s commitment), but it’s always good to have it over with,” Trapasso said.
The ‘Bows return starting pitchers Dominic DeMiero, Neil Uskali and Jackson Rees. They added six pitchers, including left-hander Jeremy Yelland of Central Valley High (Spokane, Wash.). Yelland can throw pitches in excess of 90 mph. He was not drafted after telling baseball teams he planned to attend college.
“Yelland has plus-plus stuff,” Trapasso said. “He’s a guy who’s going to be pretty good.”
