Fatherly Advice Leads Smith To Kent State

WEIDMAN - Cayden Smith has taken his father’s advice to heart.

“He’s always pushing me to work hard and let nobody outwork me,” the Beal City junior related. “He always said stay level-headed. Don’t get too high or too low. Just stay positive.”

That guidance has proven beneficial in helping the fifth-rated 2024 shortstop in Michigan become a Kent State commit.

After all, Smith had to overcome the issue of size from the beginning.

“I was 5-1 130 pounds as a freshman,” Smith explained. “I was under 5-foot until then. But my freshman summer I grew to 5-4 140 and by my sophomore year I was 5-9 160.”

Now 5-10 and 165 pounds, Smith has found more size as advantageous when it comes to baseball.

“I always wanted a future in college baseball, my dad played at Central,” Smith reflected. “I was always good when I was younger, and I’ve been going to camps since I was eight-years-old, but I didn’t have the size I do now. I started lifting weights freshman summer and my sophomore year, when I had a really big growth spurt, is when it all became realistic.”

Kent State saw Smith playing for his travel team, Capital City Kings, at Eastern Michigan this past summer.

“Rick Sellers, a big development guy around here, mentioned my name to Kent and they came to watch,” Smith noted. “We stayed in contact for a couple months and I ended up going on a visit. I liked the coaching staff, they really showed an investment in me.”

There was more that stood out about Kent to the 25th-ranked junior in Michigan.

“I saw an intersquad game, so I saw the field, and I also saw the indoor facilities and dorms,” Smith said. “When I saw them play a couple games I liked how all the players wanted to be there and that’s what I wanted.”

The chance to be a two-way player also caught the attention of Smith, whose other visit was to Western Michigan while there was also interest from Western Kentucky.

“It was really important,” Smith said of the opportunity to both pitch and play in the field at the next level. “I didn’t need that, but Kent saw that I was good at both.”

There is more that intrigued Kent State about Smith, who this past high school season helped Beal City reach the Division 4 state finals with 2.2 innings of shutout relief in the state semifinals, while pounding out a pair of hits and driving in two runs.

“They like my overall athleticism and they like my commitment to win,” Smith noted. “Just my overall attitude and knowledge of the game they liked.”

Smith pointed to summer coach Joe McDonald with helping improve his hitting, while pitching development “came natural with the growth spurt.” But it was his father who Smith credited with playing the biggest role in becoming a D-I commit.

“My dad was the main guy to get me where I am now,” Smith said. “He played first base and then a little catcher in pro ball. He knows the work it takes.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process was a short one for Smith.

“Really, for me my sophomore year was the only time colleges were talking to me,” Smith said. “That summer I went to a PBR and I’m sure colleges saw that. I think I showed colleges what I’m capable of doing.”

With a commitment comes jubilation for the 16-year-old.

“It was super exciting to reach our goal,” Smith said. “Everyone wanted me to go there.”

Plans are to major in business at the Mid-American Conference university in eastern Ohio, which is located 51/2 hours from his home in Michigan.

“I’m looking forward to meeting all the guys and spending a lot of time with the coaching staff,” concluded Smith, who carries a 3.92 GPA at Beal City. “I really like the coaching staff and can’t wait to be a part of the program.”