PAST: North Shore Twins
PRESENT: Parkgate Park
FUTURE: CIS UBC Thunderbirds
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As a left-handed pitcher, Brad Smith can inflict special damage to an opponent's offence.Ìý
His fastball tops out at 87 miles per hour, putting him in the top percentile of B.C. southpaws. But one of his other two pitches is the real threat, said North Shore Twins pitching coach Brooks McNiven.
"His curveball is the pitch that some say is big league," he said. "It's his out pitch. It's what he uses to put guys away."
And the Point Grey secondary graduate who will play next year for the UBC Thunderbirds and attend the university's Sauder School of Business has another weapon that pins runners at first base.Ìý
"He has a deadly pick-off move," said McNiven.
Smith, 18, can shut down a team's running game with his quick, stealth play from the mound.Ìý
"The key thing is not to move your shoulders towards first base," Smith said. "I keep them toward home plate but step 45 degrees. I've picked off a lot of runners, on average one a game."
Smith, along with teammate Keenan Williams, joined the Canadian national junior team on several tours to the southern U.S. and Dominican Republic. National team coach Greg Hamilton said last year that Smith "has potential and the size to go with it."
Plus he's got the smarts to work his advantages.
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