University of Richmond Athletics
Former Spider Mike Smith Receives Call From Minnesota Twins
08/03/2006 | Baseball
Aug. 3, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Former Richmond Spider pitcher Mike Smith had his contract selected by the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Aug. 2, and will join the Minnesota Twins in Kansas City to face the Royals. Smith, a pitcher for the Spiders from 1997-2000, will either take the mound Thursday, Aug. 3, in place of scheduled starter Sean Radke or possibly later in the series against the Royals.
Smith, who will wear the number 19 for the Twins, was 9-4 with a 3.52 ERA in 23 appearances (19 starts) this season for the Rochester Red Wings. He had allowed 121 hits in 125.1 innings, fanning 94.
The Medway, Mass., native, ranks second among Richmond's career Top-10 lists in strikeouts (337), appearances (72), complete games (12) and innings pitched (364.2). His 143 strikeouts in 2000, rank as the second-best single-season total in Spider baseball history.
Smith was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB Draft. He played at Richmond for both current head coach Ron Atkins and associate head coach Mark McQueen.
