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Smith to sign with Brewers
6/14/2020 6:43:00 PM | Baseball
2nd baseman made splash in 18-game Lopes career
Grand Canyon junior second baseman Drew Smith will join the Milwaukee Brewers organization after agreeing to terms Sunday to be an undrafted free agent signee.
Although the junior college transfer played just 18 games in a GCU uniform, Smith immediately became a central piece in the Lopes' batting lineup and infield. He was among the team's top-three statistical leaders in batting average (.315), walks (nine), slugging percentage (.466), runs (16), hits (23), RBIs (14) and total bases (34). He started all 18 games at second base, committing just two errors while turning 13 double plays.
"Since Day 1 in the fall, Drew showed why he was the junior college player of the year, but we were more impressed with his attitude and work ethic," GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "He's a 'hard hat' ballplayer and gives you everything he has every day. All he wants is an opportunity and I have no doubt he will make the most of it."
Smith quickly proved he belonged in Division I baseball with an opening-night performance to remember against No. 22 Oklahoma State. The Elkhorn, Nebraska, native went 3 for 5 with six RBIs and a home run, driving in GCU's first run and sealing the win with a late-game three-run blast to send the crowd of 3,843 fans into a frenzy.
Smith joins senior pitcher Kade Mechals as pro-bound 2019 Lopes after GCU's ace was a fourth-round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in the recent MLB Draft. The limited draft — which was shortened from 40 rounds to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic — turned many would-be draftees into undrafted free agents.
Milwaukee has signed more undrafted GCU players (four) than any other club. Pat Lawler (2007), Mark Gnirk (1996) and Dave Stapleton (1983) also inked deals with Milwaukee with Stapleton going on to pitch for the Brewers in the big leagues before returning to lead the Lopes baseball program. The Brewers' spring training facility, American Family Fields of Phoenix, is the closest in distance to the GCU campus, checking in at under 4 miles from GCU Ballpark.
Smith posted gaudy numbers in his two years at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. He was named the 2019 Spalding National Junior College Athletic Association DII Player of the Year after hitting .465 with a .538 on-base percentage and an .897 slugging percentage. He had 18 home runs and 69 RBIs while striking out just 12 times.
Although the junior college transfer played just 18 games in a GCU uniform, Smith immediately became a central piece in the Lopes' batting lineup and infield. He was among the team's top-three statistical leaders in batting average (.315), walks (nine), slugging percentage (.466), runs (16), hits (23), RBIs (14) and total bases (34). He started all 18 games at second base, committing just two errors while turning 13 double plays.
"Since Day 1 in the fall, Drew showed why he was the junior college player of the year, but we were more impressed with his attitude and work ethic," GCU head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. "He's a 'hard hat' ballplayer and gives you everything he has every day. All he wants is an opportunity and I have no doubt he will make the most of it."
Smith quickly proved he belonged in Division I baseball with an opening-night performance to remember against No. 22 Oklahoma State. The Elkhorn, Nebraska, native went 3 for 5 with six RBIs and a home run, driving in GCU's first run and sealing the win with a late-game three-run blast to send the crowd of 3,843 fans into a frenzy.
Smith is set to become the 16th player in program history to sign a free agent deal with an MLB organization. Recent signings include Ethan Evanko and Griffin Barnes in 2018 and AJ Franks in 2017.Have a day, kid! The first home run of the year is off the bat of @Smith7Drew. He's got six RBIs in his Lopes debut.
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) February 15, 2020
GCU 10, #22 OSU 3 pic.twitter.com/v3oBD5FUkk
Smith joins senior pitcher Kade Mechals as pro-bound 2019 Lopes after GCU's ace was a fourth-round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox in the recent MLB Draft. The limited draft — which was shortened from 40 rounds to five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic — turned many would-be draftees into undrafted free agents.
Milwaukee has signed more undrafted GCU players (four) than any other club. Pat Lawler (2007), Mark Gnirk (1996) and Dave Stapleton (1983) also inked deals with Milwaukee with Stapleton going on to pitch for the Brewers in the big leagues before returning to lead the Lopes baseball program. The Brewers' spring training facility, American Family Fields of Phoenix, is the closest in distance to the GCU campus, checking in at under 4 miles from GCU Ballpark.
Smith posted gaudy numbers in his two years at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. He was named the 2019 Spalding National Junior College Athletic Association DII Player of the Year after hitting .465 with a .538 on-base percentage and an .897 slugging percentage. He had 18 home runs and 69 RBIs while striking out just 12 times.
Those 18 games were a blast. 💪👏 Congrats, @Smith7Drew — he's agreed to terms with the @Brewers. #LopesInThePros pic.twitter.com/GSFfYERz8N
— GCU Baseball (@GCU_Baseball) June 15, 2020
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