Projo Sports Blog

Click here to see a video of Smith in action.

KINGSTON, R.I. -- Rhode Island right-handed pitcher Eric Smith of Milford, Conn., was selected 60th overall - by the Arizona Diamondbacks - in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. Smith becomes URI's highest-ever MLB Draft pick and first since 2006.

"I'm just so excited right now," Smith said immediately following the announcement. "Its unreal to be able to represent the URI program like this. We had a great season this past year and everyone stepped up and made big contributions at one point or another so this is just as much a reflection on my coaches and teammates as it is on me."

Smith - an Atlantic 10 First Team selection and NEIBA All-New England second teamer - was instrumental in Rhody's 3-0 win over eighth-ranked Miami as he pitched eight shutout innings, struck out five batters and allowed just three hits to help URI pull off the biggest victory in the program's history. With the win, the Rams became the first team to hold the Hurricanes scoreless over nine innings since then-No. 5 Virginia blanked Miami (1-0) on March 24, 2007. URI also became the first team in over four years to shut down the 'Canes on their home field as then-No. 16 North Carolina was the last to do with a with a 2-0 win on May 16, 2004.

Following that performance, he was named to the College Baseball Foundation's National All-Star Lineup as well as Recruitingcloser.com's National Pitchers of the Week list. A week later in a no-decision appearance against fourth-ranked Cal State Fullerton, he struck out four batters with zero walks over 6.2 innings of work.

Smith continued his dominance in conference play, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout in Rhody's 3-0 win over Dayton, becoming the only pitcher to hold the regular-season champions scoreless over nine innings this year. He finished the 2009 regular season leading the conference with a .222 overall opposing batting average and .214 in A-10 games while ranking second overall in the league in hits allowed (51), earned runs allowed (26) and earned runs allowed (24).

Smith is the sixth Rhode Island baseball player to be drafted since 2003 as Steve Holmes was URI's former highest pick, going to the New York Mets in the fifth round (154th overall) of the 2006 Draft. In 2005, Zack Zuercher was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals (ninth round, 290th overall) while Dan Batz went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the in 2004 Draft (sixth round, 178th overall). Right-handed pitchers Reid Willett (21st Round - 613th pick, Chicago Cubs) and Jared Trout (28th Round - 842nd pick, Oakland Athletics) both were selected as juniors in 2003.

Recent Rhody graduates Zach Zaneski '08, Mike Rainville '05, and Mick Lefort '05 also signed free agent contracts with the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, respectively.

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