By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

As we continue to move closer to the start of a new baseball season in Colorado and to our first showcase event for 2015 and 2016, Prep Baseball Report would like to feature the participants for the Preseason All State Event taking place February 22nd at Slammers South.  Today's feature is No. 37 2016, Braden Smith.

No. 37 2016 Braden Smith, OF, Lakewood
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed outfielder impressed with legitimate physical athletic ability.  Threw 75 mph from the outfield from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot with good hands, playing through the baseball aggressively when fielding.  Impressed everyone with running a 6.73 60.  Hits from a balanced athletic setup, hands load back smoothly, creating good separation. Has leg kick that he gets down early and shows explosion with his lower half. Bat speed is fast with a short path and good extension producing line drive gap-gap power producing 76 mph exit velocity off the tee.

PBR:  Describe yourself as a baseball player to those who have never seen you play: 

Smith:  If I could describe myself, I would describe myself as being aggressive, and very passionate when I play baseball. I like to steal bases a lot no matter where I am and I'm not afraid to swing on the first pitch. I like to take my chances. And when I'm out there I give it 110% in everything I do so that I can give me and my team a better chance of getting a win. I hate losing. 

PBR:  What would be your dream school to play baseball at? 

Smith:  My dream school would be to play baseball at the University of Nebraska. I'm in love with the state. I like how everyone rallies around the Cornhuskers because they don't have any pro teams there. I try to go to Lincoln every chance I get when I go visit my grandparents. My grandparents rarely see me play so if I go to the University of Nebraska, it'll make it easier for them to come and watch me. 

PBR:  What are your best assets on and off the field at this point in your high school career?

Smith:  On the field my best asset would have to be my speed and my quickness. And off the field, my best assets would have to be my personality and my drive to get better everyday and to just take it one day at a time.

PBR:  What does your off-season preparation look like this year compared to you freshman year?

Smith:  This offseason I've been waking up early to go workout and to get better everyday. When I was a freshman, I would've never waken up early to go lift. I would kind of just wait until the next sport came and then just play. But now I'm actually getting prepared for the next sport so that I'm fully ready to go when it starts.

PBR:  What is the best baseball advice you have received and try to follow to this point in your career? 

Smith:  The best advice that I got was to simply just have fun. My mom told me that my sophomore year because of some personal stuff that was going on and it just stuck with me ever since. Baseball and the other sports are not going to be there for you forever, so just enjoy it while you can.

PBR:  What are your superstitions or routines that go on during a season?

Smith:  My routines I do before a game is to first, not wear my game jersey the day before my game or else I think it will make me play bad. The next one is that I go to a Mexican food restaurant right before my game so that I will play better. That one is a very important one. And the last one I do is wear crazy and weird socks while I play.

PBR:  What are your goals for: 

This Season: Me and my team want to go at least 13-6 this season. And I want to be 1st or 2nd team all conference this season with the most stolen bases in my league.

Two Years:   I want to graduate high school and go to college for either baseball or football or even both 

Four Years:  Attending my college and play sports. And also being happy with my life and living it to the fullest.