Sports THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CYCLISTS COMPETE IN TOUR OF LAWRENCE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009
Three races take place over three days in inaugural event. PAGE 26
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BASEBALL
Pitcher grateful for time at Kansas
Smyth preparing for career in the Major Leagues
BY HANNAH DECLERK
hdeclerk@kansan.com
Paul Smyth always wanted to be a soccer player. He played most of his life, relying on his feet for his athletic success. It wasn't until high school that he became a star.
that his arm also played a significant role in his life.
Smyth, senior right-handed pitcher from Atascadero, Calif., was the fourth member of the Kansas baseball team to be drafted to Major League Baseball this year. He was named First Team Academic
All-Big 12 for a second straight season, and totalled 147 career strikeouts while playing for the University. The Oakland Athletics drafted him and he currently plays for one of their minor league teams, the Vancouver
Canadians. He will finish his run with Vancouver in September, and depending on how well he plays, the Oakland Athletics will decide if he is ready for the majors in February.
"It really helps when you feel like the coaching staff is behind you."
Smyth said he knew he could never have had this success without Kansas baseball
PAUL SMYTH Senior pitcher
"Kansas gave me such a great opportunity," Smyth said. "The coaches gave me tons confidence with my 'rubber arm.' It really helps when you feel like the coaching staff is behind you."
His "rubber arm," he said, came from
being a soccer player for most of his life. Because he used his legs rather than his arms, his arms were easily trainable.
"I played soccer until my junior year of high school," Smyth said. "It
turns out it was a good thing. Some pitchers have been playing all their lives, making their arms less trainable. There are only so many bullets in your gun."
Smyth joined a summer baseball team at the end of his sophomore year of high school, playing a total of 106 games. He began his career as a catcher, and it was not until his coach mentioned pitching that he took it into consideration.
"It's one of those things where I have to thank my high school coach for everything." Smyth said. "I didn't like pitching, and he convinced me to do something that I am still doing today"
SEE SMYTH ON PAGE 29
At the end of his senior year of high
BASEBALL
Kansas' Smyth builds success in minor leagues
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
Paul Smyth's senior season didn't go as he had hoped. By the time Smyth, the Jayhawks' closer, recorded his fifth save, he had already blown five save opportunities, and his HERA had ballooned to double-
But something clicked for Smyth come conference play — he opened Big 12 play with three one-run saves in as many days against then No.1 Texas. His strong finish (nine saves on the year 3.00 FRA in conference play) and his impressive career numbers (his 27 saves are second only to 2006 7th-rounder
digit range.
Since being drafted, Smyth quickly signed and reported to Vancouver, where he is now pitching for the Single-A Vancouver Canadians. The 22-year-old Smyth has seen nothing but success in his professional career. He made his
Don Czyz.) lead to the Oakland Athletics' selection of Smyth in the 35th round of this summer's draft.
Smyth was given his first professional save opportunity July 4 against the Spokane Indians. He went 1.1 perfect innings, not allowing a base runner and striking out
first four appearances in middle relief and silenced the opposition over seven innings, allowing just two hits and no runs with nine strikeouts.
two in the Canadians' 5-3 win. Smyth's five appearances lead the team, as does his 0.00 ERA and 0.24 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched).
Edited by Jason Baker