Indians’ Chad Smith has big-league aspirations

In Chad Smith’s family, they like to say the third time is a charm.

The Spokane Indians outfielder grew up in a baseball-centric household. His father, Ronald Smith Jr., was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played two years in Single A with the Huntington Cubs. His grandfather, Ronald Smith Sr., was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and played three seasons in the minor leagues.

Neither made it any further, but once Chad was drafted in the fifth round by the Rangers in the 2015 draft, it was another chance for a Smith to make it to the big leagues.

Chad says he doesn’t feel pressure from his dad and grandpa to make it to the major leagues, rather it’s his personal goal. It’s something Ronald has emphasized ever since Chad was playing tee-ball.

“The one thing that I’ve told Chad along the way is that I want you to play for yourself,” Ronald Smith Jr. said. “I think he really understands that this is what he wants to do, and at the end of the day, we love him no matter what.

“We love Chad the baseball player, and we love Chad the person.”

Chad’s dream of playing professional baseball materialized when he was about 10 years old. Before that, football was his passion. He envisioned himself on the gridiron playing for the University of Georgia, which is a hop, skip and a jump away from his hometown of Snellville, Georgia.

He shifted his focus to baseball, and while Chad will tell you he made this realization on his own, his dad says he had a hand in it as well.

“I went back and played in a 30-and-older league and I made Chad watch me play, just so I could spark some interest” Ronald said. “I think that did it for him.”

Although his aspiration of playing football subsided, competing for UGA still remained an option. Chad committed to play baseball for the Bulldogs early in his high school career, but once his name was called on draft night, Chad was faced with a decision. One he did not take lightly.

“I wish I could have had a tape recorder to tape his conversation with my wife and I when he was drafted and made the decision,” Ronald said. “He was a kid making a man’s decision.”

He ultimately decided that starting his journey of playing professional baseball was too good to pass up.

“I remember telling them, a bird in the hand is worth more than two in a bush,” Chad said. “I had a great opportunity to become a professional baseball player. It’s a dream I’ve always had. No matter the money or anything like that I was given, I just wanted the opportunity.”

At 17 years old, Chad embarked on his dream of baseball. Braces still line the whites of his teeth, but even though he is the second-youngest player in the Indians’ clubhouse behind pitcher Tyler Phillips, Chad carries a mature disposition.

“The majority of the time, you would never guess he’s an 18-year-old compared to some of the other guys that are in this league,” Spokane assistant coach Jared Goedert said of Chad, who is hitting .296 and leading the team with 24 hits.

When Chad isn’t at the ballpark, he’s usually tuned in to MLB Network and re-watching highlights to study the game. Or, on the off chance he can catch the 7 p.m. showing, watching his favorite T.V. show, Jeopardy.

He loves the show so much that he aspires to be a Jeopardy champion. Back in Snellville, Chad, his mother, Penny, and sometimes his 9-year-old sister Lauryn watch every day and play a game to see who can answer the most questions. Ronald used to play, but doesn’t as much anymore.

“I try not to get involved as much anymore. He wins all the time and I don’t like to lose,” he said.

Chad’s dream of appearing on Jeopardy is on hold while he traverses his way through the minor leagues, hoping he can achieve what no other member of his family has done before. And his father, who only got his cup of coffee in the minor leagues, has always had an inkling that the third time might be the charm.

“To be honest, I always felt like he was going to have the opportunity to play professional baseball,” Ronald said. “I never wavered on that.”