Smith Drafted by Astros in Fourth Round
7/15/2024 2:57:00 PM | Baseball
Highest-drafted Owl since Trei Cruz
Rice righthander Parker Smith was selected by the Houston Astros in the fourth round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.
Smith's selection in the fourth round is the highest by an Owl since Trei Cruz was selected by Detroit in the third round of the 2020 draft.
Smith led the Owls in wins (5), innings (89.1), and strikeouts (78) and tied for the lead in starts (15) and complete games (1) as a junior. He tied for the AAC lead in the fewest homers allowed (4) and ranked fifth in innings, sixth in strikeouts looking (26), ninth in strikeouts, and tenth in ERA (4.23). He ranked second during conference games in innings (57.2), third in K's looking (18), fifth in strikeouts (48), and tied for sixth in fewest homers (3).
After moving into the starting rotation in the last half of his freshman year, Smith moved into the top spot in the rotation as a sophomore and earned All-Conference USA honors and an invitation to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp after a standout season. He finished the regular season ranked second in C-USA with a 2.75 ERA, tied for second in innings (85), and ranked fifth in strikeouts (80), strikeouts looking (26), and opponent's batting average (.231). He became the first Owl since 2019 to be named C-USA Pitcher of the Week for his 1-0 win at FAU on March 30, in which he worked a career-best 8.2 innings and struck out a career-high nine before Matthew Linskey came on to retire the final hitter and close out the first home shutout against FAU in C-USA play since 2017
Smith closed his Rice career by making 32 consecutive starts, the most by an Owl since Matt Canterino started 32 in a row in 2017-18 and started 26 of 28 series openers over the last two years.
His first career win as an Owl (2/23/22) was the first win for head coach Jose Cruz Jr. at Rice as the Owls defeated Houston Baptist and head coach Lance Berkman, 6-2.
He is the 13th Owl to be selected by the Astros and the highest drafted since they selected Philip Barzilla in the fourth round in 2001. He is the first Owl taken by Houston since Garrett Gayle was drafted in the 12th round in 2019.
The Owls have had five pitchers drafted in the last three years: Roel Garcia (2022), Justin Long, Hayden Durke, and Matthew Linskey (2023), while a sixth (Cooper Chandler) signed as a free agent.
Smith's selection in the fourth round is the highest by an Owl since Trei Cruz was selected by Detroit in the third round of the 2020 draft.
Smith led the Owls in wins (5), innings (89.1), and strikeouts (78) and tied for the lead in starts (15) and complete games (1) as a junior. He tied for the AAC lead in the fewest homers allowed (4) and ranked fifth in innings, sixth in strikeouts looking (26), ninth in strikeouts, and tenth in ERA (4.23). He ranked second during conference games in innings (57.2), third in K's looking (18), fifth in strikeouts (48), and tied for sixth in fewest homers (3).
After moving into the starting rotation in the last half of his freshman year, Smith moved into the top spot in the rotation as a sophomore and earned All-Conference USA honors and an invitation to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp after a standout season. He finished the regular season ranked second in C-USA with a 2.75 ERA, tied for second in innings (85), and ranked fifth in strikeouts (80), strikeouts looking (26), and opponent's batting average (.231). He became the first Owl since 2019 to be named C-USA Pitcher of the Week for his 1-0 win at FAU on March 30, in which he worked a career-best 8.2 innings and struck out a career-high nine before Matthew Linskey came on to retire the final hitter and close out the first home shutout against FAU in C-USA play since 2017
Smith closed his Rice career by making 32 consecutive starts, the most by an Owl since Matt Canterino started 32 in a row in 2017-18 and started 26 of 28 series openers over the last two years.
His first career win as an Owl (2/23/22) was the first win for head coach Jose Cruz Jr. at Rice as the Owls defeated Houston Baptist and head coach Lance Berkman, 6-2.
He is the 13th Owl to be selected by the Astros and the highest drafted since they selected Philip Barzilla in the fourth round in 2001. He is the first Owl taken by Houston since Garrett Gayle was drafted in the 12th round in 2019.
The Owls have had five pitchers drafted in the last three years: Roel Garcia (2022), Justin Long, Hayden Durke, and Matthew Linskey (2023), while a sixth (Cooper Chandler) signed as a free agent.
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