No. 35 -- Carlton Smith
The Carlton Smith File
Born: Jan. 23, 1986 in Plainfield, NJ
Position: Starting Pitcher
B/T: L/R
HT/WT: 6-1/200
Acquired: 21st-round draft pick in 2004 from Piscataway (NJ) HS.
Strengths: Mid-90s four-seam fastball is main pitch. Also has a polished slider. Has worked hard to get stronger physically. Strong work ethic. Has shown the ability to repeat delivery, which has been a key to his success.
Weaknesses: Two straight years he has started the season very slowly. Still working on sinker and changeup. Despite excellent velocity, is not a strikeout pitcher, fanning only 81 in 146 1/3 innings this past year. Relies heavily on his defense.
2009 Projection: Will likely be in starting rotation at Akron, unless logjam higher up in farm system forces a return to Kinston.
2008 & MINOR-LEAGUE CAREER
|
Team |
W |
L |
ERA |
G |
GS |
IP |
H |
BB |
SO |
|
Kinston |
12 |
6 |
4.37 |
26 |
26 |
146.3 |
143 |
33 |
81 |
|
Minor Totals |
26 |
17 |
4.31 |
77 |
64 |
351.3 |
347 |
95 |
223 |
BONUS COVERAGE: The following feature is reprinted from the Sept. 2007 issue of Indians Ink Magazine:
By Frank Derry
Carlton Smith will never forget the phone call.
It was a special call, from a very special person, on an extremely special day in his life.
“I was in high school and we were coming in from a fire drill,” Smith recalled. “We weren’t supposed to have our phones on because we were in school, but I had made arrangements with the principal and my teacher to let me answer my phone if it rang during the draft.
“Corey called and said, `You know you just got picked up by the Cleveland Indians, don’t you?’ I said, `How would I know? I’m in school. I’m in the middle of class.’
“My teacher was pretty cool. She had told me if I heard anything to let her know. So when I told her I had just become a Cleveland Indian, all of my classmates started clapping for me. That was pretty cool.”
Smith had just been selected in the 21st round of the 2004 draft by the Indians. The Corey to whom he referred is his older brother, who had been a first-round draft pick of the Indians in 2000.
But unlike Corey, who signed immediately after being drafted, Carlton decided to take a detour.
He had committed to attend Old Dominion University in Virginia, but changed those plans to pitch at Oklaloosa Walton Community College in Florida to give himself the option to sign with the Indians as a draft-and-follow player following his freshman season.
It turned out to be a tremendous decision. He went 8-3 with a 3.31 ERA and one save in 17 games and was a Panhandle Conference First Team selection.
“It really paid off,” said the 6-1, 200-pound right-hander. “I was able to better myself both as a person and a player. In high school I had been throwing 90 or 91 miles per hour. I improved that to 92-94 in college and now I’m hitting 95.”
Asked the key to his improvement, Smith said, “Strength and solid work ethic.”
His decision to turn pro was an easy one because he wanted to get out of Corey’s large shadow in which he had played for many years.
“I had to live through it (being known as Corey’s younger brother) throughout high school,” he said. “I was the only freshman who was starting on the varsity as a freshman and my teammates would say, `You know the only reason you are playing is because you are Corey’s brother.’
“For four years I had to go through that. And then when I got drafted by Cleveland, that only gave them more fuel for the fire.”
Smith used the good-natured ribbing as motivation. “What they said made me work harder, so I thank them,” he said with a big smile.
In reality, Carlton was an outstanding player in his own right at a variety of positions. On the travel teams he would rotate between shortstop, second, third, first, pitcher and catcher.
“I played anywhere in the infield,” Smith said. “I was just like Corey. I didn’t want to touch the outfield.”
As a freshman, Carlton was the starting catcher at Piscataway (NJ) High School. He returned to that role as a sophomore, but also began pitching relief. By his junior year he had become the ace of the pitching staff. “When I wasn’t pitching I played first base in order to save my arm,” he said.
During the summer, Carlton would sometimes spend time with his brother, which allowed him to meet some of the Indians’ coaches for whom he now plays, including Captains pitching coach Ruben Niebla.
Unfortunately, the Smith brothers’ dream of one day playing together for the Indians hit a snag when Corey was traded to San Diego following the 2004 season. The pressure which came from being the No. 1 draft choice never seemed to allow Corey to live up to his potential.
“I tried to tell him not to try to impress anybody; that you already made it to where you want to be and now you just have to work hard to get even further,” Carlton recalled. “But I’m the younger brother. How much is he going to listen to me? I’m the one who is supposed to listen to him.
“My dad and I kept telling him to stop thinking about it (being a No. 1 draft choice) and see what happens. Now he is realizing that what we said was true.”
Corey was released by the Padres and is now alternating between first and third base in the independent Atlantic League with the Newark Bears. “He’s doing great,” Carlton said. “He is finally realizing what my dad and I told him was true. He leads his team in doubles and one time this year stole two bases in one game even though he isn’t even fast.”
As for his own career, Smith continues to show improvement, even if it hasn’t been reflected in his record. After going 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in nine starts at Burlington in 2005, Smith went 3-3 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 starts at Lake County last season.
He returned to the Captains this year and through early July was 5-6 with a 5.27 ERA. But after two tough months, he really started to come around in June when he began the month by throwing six innings in a 3-0 shutout victory on June 1.
Two weeks later he allowed just one run over five innings, then followed that by combining with two relief pitchers to throw the first no-hitter in Lake County history against Delmarva on June 24. Smith worked the first seven innings, followed by one inning each from Austin Creps and Luis Perdomo.
Amazingly, nine days later Captains pitchers Hector Rondon and Neil Wagner combined on another no-hitter, once again against Delmarva.
Lake County manager Chris Tremie said, “Carlton has had several strong outings as of late, especially in the no-hitter. He continues to work on the pitches that he needs to work on. As his mechanics have improved, so has his velocity.”
In addition to his fastball, Smith throws a sinker, slider and change-up, all of which have room for improvement.
“I wish I could have started a little better, but I’m throwing pretty well right now,” Smith said.
He’s pitching well enough that he’s thinking about once again issuing a challenge to his brother.
“When I was a senior in high school, I called him on the phone just before his all-star break,” Carlton recalled. “I said, `If you want it (to face his pitching), come and get it. I even told our local newspaper and they said they would love to cover it.
“Corey said, `Man, I’ll make you turn around and watch the ball.’ I said, `Yeah, right. Just get in the box.’ I told everybody. But the all-star break came around and he never showed up.
“Now I’m throwing a lot harder than I was back then. I think I could give it to him now.”
It might very well happen soon.
“There’s always the off-season,” said Carlton. “He’s a hitter and I’m a pitcher. We always have to work. Maybe we’ll get to face each other this winter.”
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