Smitherman added to Reds 40-man roster
Nov. 20, 2002
Former UALR baseball player
Stephen Smitherman has been added to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster
after an outstanding 2002 season that saw his stock rise within the
Reds organization.
Smitherman's addition to the
Reds 40-man roster caps a season that him earn a spot on the Cal League
All-Star Team, named the Cal League Playoff MVP and play in the Arizona
Fall League along with the top prospects in other Major League
organizations.
As a member of the 40-man
roster, Smitherman will attend spring training with the big league team
and get the opportunity impress the major league staff on a daily
basis.
Smitherman earned his playoff
MVP award by leading the Stockton Ports, a
Cincinnati Reds class “A” affiliate, hitting .522 during the
California League Playoffs with 12 hits, six doubles and a .783 slugging
percentage. Stockton swept
the Modesto A's in the first round and defeated the Lake Elsinore Storm
3-1 in the Championship Series.
A 23rd
round selection of the Cincinnati Reds in the 2000 June Free Agent Draft,
Smitherman also had a productive regular season for the Ports. He
earned a spot on the California League All-Star Team, batting .313 with 19
home runs and 99 RBI's. He
led the team in runs scored (78), doubles (36), slugging percentage
(.510), home runs and RBI's as Stockton posted an 89-51 regular season
record.
Smitherman was a two-year
starter for UALR and had his most productive year as a senior during the
2000 season, batting .326 with nine home runs and 53 RBI's.
His 73 hits during that season is the fourth highest single-season
total in school history.
