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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — South Rowan High graduate Brian Smith will board a plane for Pittsburgh today to join the Pirates.
And some time this week, he should become the first Rowan native to play in the major leagues since Woodleaf’s Barry Moore fired his last pitch for the Chicago White Sox in 1970.
The major-league debut for Smith, a right-handed pitcher, could come as early as Friday when the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds in a doubleheader.
So is Smith losing sleep at the prospect of being called upon to face KenGriffey Jr.?
“No,” he says. “This is what it’s all about. This is what I’ve waited my whole life for.”
Smith, 28, was never the odds-on favorite to become Rowan’s first big-leaguer in three decades. He’s an average-sized guy and a guy who lost four games his senior year in high school in 1990. He was a good Rowan County American Legion pitcher, but no one felt compelled to compare him to Brian Boltz or Randy Benson.
Smith wasn’t drafted out of high school and was a solid, but unspectacular pitcher during his four years of toil for mediocre UNC Wilmington teams. He actually went 4-9 his sophomore year with the Seahawks, but kept right on plugging.
His senior year he went 8-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 78 strikeouts, and that was enough to get him drafted on the 27th round by the Blue Jays in June of 1994.
Smith hurled for Blue Jay farm teams the next six years. He made all the stops, visiting Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in ‘95 with Hagerstown and Knights Castle with Triple A Syracuse in ‘97.
Smith was an effective starter for Syracuse in ‘97 and seemed on the verge of a promotion to the parent Blue Jays at any moment. He watched teammate after teammate with similar (or lesser) records get the call. But his phone didn’t ring.
Smith’s dreams nearly died over the next two years, as the Blue Jays dribbled him back and forth between Double A and Triple A. Even worse than the frustration was the growing pain in his arm and shoulder.
“I knew by ‘98 I wasn’t exactly a hot prospect anymore,” said Smith. “I honestly felt I was good enough to pitch in the big leagues, but I didn’t know if my health would hold up long enough for me to get a chance.”
But out of nowhere, Smith finished the ‘99 season at Syracuse with a tremendous run as the team’s closer.
“I don’t know what to say except that maybe it was an act of God,” said Smith. “The second half of ‘99, I just turned it on. My arm was killing me between appearances. But when I got on the mound, somehow, I didn’t feel it. And I guess I put up the sort of numbers that forced people to notice me.”
Pittsburgh did. And since he had been in the Blue Jay system for five years but was not on the 40-man protected roster, the Pirates were able to claim him in the “Rule 5” draft. Smith was elated to get a fresh start with a new organization, but knew he had to level with the Pirates about his health.
“It was the biggest decision of my career — of my life,” said Smith. “I could’ve gone to spring training with the Pirates, but the way my arm felt I would’ve been garbage.
“So I told them I needed surgery.”
The Pirates were stunned, but after some discussion, agreed.
When the doctors finally got Smith on the table last November they were shocked. His right arm was a mess — worse than anyone had imagined.
“A torn rotator, a torn labrum. Everything was bad, really,” said Smith.
The Pirates wrote him off for 2000, figuring they’d be lucky to have him back healthy for 2001.
Smith wasn’t sure what to think. He knew a teammate who had undergone similar surgery and missed a year and a half. But barely six months after nearly complete arm reconstruction, Smith reported to Pittsburgh’s AA team — the Altoona (Pa.) Curve.
Smith dominated the Eastern League in July and August, saving 12 games and winning three. He gave up one hit every two innings and struck out three times as many as he walked. His impressive ERA — 0.99.
Those numbers got Pittsburgh to notice him one more time. And prompted the call that Smith had so long awaited.
“I’d always thought I’d feel euphoria when they called me up,” said Smith. “But honestly, it was more like relief. It was just my time.”
Smith, who plans to be married in October, is realistic about what’s ahead. He’s not making plans for Cooperstown.
“My goal is to stay up there for a few years,” he said. “A lot of guys go up. Most of them don’t stay. But the way the money is now, if you can play a few years in the big leagues, you’re set for life.”
Smith has no doubts that his sinking fastball and changeup are major-league quality.
“I throw a ton of strikes and get groundballs,” he said.
But the pitch that may make or break Smith’s bid is his slider. It’s been hit-and-miss since the surgery.
“As a closer I’ve usually been out there just one inning and the fastball and change have been enough,” he said.
“But I know to do the job in the big leagues, I’ve got to get the slider going. I’ve got to have everything rolling along. I mean, I’ll be pitching to the guys on the baseball cards.”
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