Smiddy Excited About The Challenges Ahead At Butler

Garyson Smiddy LHP / LHP / Defiance, OH / 2025

DEFIANCE - Despite yet to throw a varsity pitch in high school, Defiance High School senior Garyson Smiddy is a Division I college commit.

“I was sick and missed my whole junior year,” explained the Butler University recruit. “I tried to get back everything I lost. I went to a Prep Baseball showcase at Wright State for uncommitted seniors that got my name out there. Then I went to X2 in North Carolina with Luke Hagerty and hit 88. That got more D-I schools in contact with me. I did two more showcases and Twitter also helped get my name out there.”

The 21st-rated 2025 left-handed pitcher in Ohio also gave credit to playing for the Warhawks in the fall, benefitting his ability to get seen. A Butler coach watching him throw in Chillicothe proved to be the final piece of the puzzle.

“After that I went on a visit to Butler and they offered me,” Smiddy related. “It was the best fit for me. They were all very welcoming. It felt like a true family. I really liked the culture.”

There were seven offers in all for the 6-7 220-pound southpaw, with Central Michigan the only other visit made by the 17-year-old.

“They saw how I can get outs,” Smiddy said of what stood out about him to Butler. “I wasn’t just pitching for contact, I was pitching for strikeouts. They like how I pound the zone and also my projectability as a 6-7 left-hander.”

The idea of playing at the next level began at a young age.

“Since I was a kid it’s been a dream of mine,” Smiddy noted. “Realistically, I knew I had a shot my sophomore year. I was a 6-4, 6-5 lefty starting to get into the mid-80s.”

But missing his 11th-grade season brought some doubt.

“It was mentally challenging losing all that exposure,” the 136th-ranked senior in the state said. “It took this past summer to get my name out there. If there was a showcase, I would go to it.” 

Improvement helped the cause for Smiddy, who also pointed to ACME coaches Caden Kline and Mitchell Spencer with assistance on the pitching side of things.

“Mentally is the biggest thing,” Smiddy related of where he has made the most strides. “I’ve gotten mentally stronger. I’m also throwing more strikes.”

The Defiance product is confident he can provide a valuable arm to the Big East Conference program located in Indianapolis, a little more than 2.5 hours from home.

“I’m an instant-impact type of player,” Smiddy said. “I think I can go there and get innings right away and they believe that, too. I’m looking to make an impact while actually playing my freshman year.”

A commitment brought a great feeling to Smiddy, a 3.6 student in high school planning on a major in business/entrepreneurship at Butler.

“It was definitely a big weight off the shoulders,” Smiddy explained. “The past year not knowing if I’d get schools to look at me and then having 20 D-I schools reach out, actually committing was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.”

With recruitment now in the past, the hard-throwing left-hander is ready to face all the new challenges that lie ahead.

“College will definitely be different from high school ball,” Smiddy concluded. “I’m excited for the new adventures it will bring.”