Les Smith Heading Home

[Parrott]

I have never heard of someone being drafted after their sophomore JC year. From the way CajunT explained it, the reason Smith can go after one more year is because he played one year of college ball. Most JC guys don't graduate from that school with only one year there. I wonder if more kids won't start doing that in order to get to the draft sooner.

Adam Milligan was a two-time all-America outfielder at Walters State Community College in 2007 and '08. Signed with Vanderbilt but got drafted in the sixth round last year by Atlanta and went pro.

That's just a recent example I know because I covered Adam in high school.

It's really not unusual for guys to get drafted after their sophomore year in junior college. A lot of guys return for their sophomore year just to improve on their draft status as a freshman.

igeaux.mobi

[J-Town Cajun]

_ I have never heard of someone being drafted after their sophomore JC year. From the way CajunT explained it, the reason Smith can go after one more year is because he played one year of college ball. Most JC guys don't graduate from that school with only one year there. I wonder if more kids won't start doing that in order to get to the draft sooner. _

Osborne was drafted last year after JUCO ball but decided to come to UL to improve is stock.

[CajunT]

_ Osborne was drafted last year after JUCO ball but decided to come to UL to improve is stock. _

Keefer was drafted by the Dodgers as well last year.

[Parrott]

Chad Keefer was drafted after his freshman year in 2007. So was Garrett Larsen that same year by Boston.


igeaux.mobi

[CajunT]

_ Chad Keefer was drafted after his freshman year in 2007. So was Garrett Larsen that same year by Boston.


igeaux.mobi _

Both were draft and follow?

[Parrott]

2006 was the final year for the draft-and-follow process.

igeaux.mobi

[CajunT]

_ 2006 was the final year for the draft-and-follow process.

igeaux.mobi _

Okay, gotcha!

[Parrott]

No worries, brother!


igeaux.mobi

[Cajunsmike]

_ This is correct. There is no graduation requirement, otherwise many fewer players would be eligible for the draft.

igeaux.mobi _

I guess the reason I have not heard of guys being drafted after two JUCO years is the majors want to see how they do in college ball before taking them.

[NewsCopy]

 On the field, Les Smith found everything he could have ever wanted playing baseball at UL.

The 554-mile separation from his family in Dyersburg, Tenn., though, ended up being too much for freshman outfielder to bear.

Smith, a starter in right field this past season, told theadvertiser.com that he will transfer to a junior college closer to home. He called UL coach Tony Robichaux on Sunday afternoon with his official decision.

"First off, I want to say that coach Robe and his coaching staff are unbelievable, and that my decision to leave had nothing to do with the coaches, my teammates or the program," Smith said in his first media interview since making his decision. "Basically, it came down to what was best for me and what was going to make me happy.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • June 1, 2009

[J-Town Cajun]

The way I see it is that Les is leaving on good terms. He will be missed and I felt that he was the next great player since Lucroy. Well once a Cajun always a Cajun. Good luck Les!

[raginsaints]

This makes me sad