Classic is in the Cards for Smith
Prospect arrives on stage via the Caribbean, New England
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
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It's an interesting story, both geographically and from a baseball competition standpoint. Curt Smith, 22, is from Curacao, Willemstad to be exact. That's part of the Netherlands Antilles, which is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
That explains the geography. It doesn't shed light on how someone from a Caribbean island ends up in New England to play college ball and then in the Cardinals system.
"The University of Maine has had a strong connection with Curacao for a while," said Jeff Luhnow, the Cardinals' vice president of amateur scouting and player development. "Their coach actively recruits there. To go from a tropical island to Maine to play baseball sounds strange, but they do a great job of it and it helps them remain competitive."
Smith was a senior at Maine when he caught the eye of the Cardinals' area scout and a part-timer in the region. He wasn't cross-checked and St. Louis took him in the 39th round of the 2008 Draft. He went to the Appalachian League, granted a touch old for the Rookie-level circuit, but definitely opened some eyes by winning the batting title (.378) and being named league MVP.
"Often, [late signees] are considered organization fillers," Luhnow said. "The accolades he received, that says it all. He's done everything he needed to do to prove himself to us last year."
Whatever else he proves, it will all be with his bat. A shortstop in college, the Cards see him more as a corner guy. He's shown early on that his offensive skill set might play just fine there. And let's just say that the glove will keep him at first base.
"Offense is what will differentiate him," Luhnow said. "He's got plus raw power, an overall package. He's somewhat limited by defense. The more he hits, the more people will forgive him his misgivings in the field."
Now Smith will have the chance to let his bat speak for him on a much bigger stage. With a grand total of 45 at-bats at the full-season level, the leap to the World Baseball Classic will be a challenge, to say the least. But it could help act as a springboard for Smith as he prepares to make the jump to full-season ball -- maybe even all the way to Class A Advanced Palm Beach -- once the regular season gets underway.
"When we heard, it was thrilling for him and we wanted to encourage him to go play," Luhnow said of his inclusion on the roster. "It will be tough competition, obviously. Going into a competition against countries with depth, we don't have high expectations, nor will we count anything against him. It will be fun to watch him, and if he has some success, it will certainly bolster his case here.
"If he picks up where he left off offensively, we'll find a place for him. He's got a special bat."
RHP Arquimedes Nieto will be only 20 in April, but the Panamanian right-hander made a nice splash in his United States debut in 2008. He went straight to the short-season New York-Penn League and was an All-Star, going 6-1 with a 2.95 ERA over 58 innings.
RHP Adam Ottavino, the Cardinals' first-rounder out of Northeastern in 2006, is on the Italian roster. A 2007 Florida State League All-Star, he went 3-7 with a 5.24 ERA over 115 1/3 innings with Double-A Springfield in 2008.
Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
