UIC pitcher Ryan Smith selected by Houston Astros

Former Nazareth star Ryan Smith never took his eye off the ball.

Smith had a rough first season at Illinois-Chicago in 2022, then was sidelined for 18 months after suffering an injury that required Tommy John surgery. But the 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander returned to the Flames last season and was better than ever, landing on the radars of MLB scouts.

“I always knew he was special,” Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. “Ryan really fought to show the caliber of player he is. Some guys would have given up, but not Ryan. He turned adversity into something positive and used it as a source of motivation for himself.”

Smith, who graduated from Nazareth in 2021, went 3-2 with a 4.63 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 16 walks in 35 innings during his redshirt sophomore season, when his fastball was clocked at 98 mph. On Monday, he was selected by the Houston Astros in the ninth round of the MLB draft.

“I was so excited,” Smith said. “I knew it was going to happen, but it was just a matter of time. I was super excited.”

A day later, his former teammate Cooper Malamazian, a 2024 Nazareth graduate who committed to Indiana, was selected in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I was really shocked and it took me a while to process the news,” Malamazian said. “These last few days have been crazy because it’s an incredible experience that not many people get to experience.”

Milano called this week a historic one for his program. The Roadrunners, who won back-to-back Class 3A state titles in 2022-23, have had three players drafted in three years. Michael Prosecky, a 2019 Nazareth graduate, was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the sixth round of the 2022 draft.

“I’m so happy for Ryan,” Milano said. “He’s a phenomenal kid. He’s always at games at Nazareth. That speaks volumes about his commitment to his community. It’s great for the program, too.”

Smith, a Westchester native, pitched sparingly during his first three years at Nazareth before having a breakout senior season, where he posted a 2.31 ERA in 39 innings. He then posted an 8.74 ERA in just six games, including one start, during his first season at UIC.

“It’s kind of crazy that he’s really exploded against the pros this year,” Milano said. “It really shows his work ethic. His speed has continued to increase. I think he’s broken his personal best six times.”

“I knew he had a healthy arm his first year with us. He pitched a little bit, but his sophomore year he started at third base. His senior year I asked him to move from shortstop to the outfield because Cooper was coming. He never played outfield in his life. He didn’t get a Division I offer (until) his senior year, but he worked really hard.”

Smith said his first game back after surgery was a humbling experience. He allowed nine earned runs on seven hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning against Incarnate Word on Feb. 21.

“That game put me in a whole new mindset,” he said. “Everything happens for a reason, like why I got injured. All that time, from my injury to the COVID season, gave me time to develop.

“That game was the best thing that ever happened to me. I knew it couldn’t get any worse, so I had fun. The rest of the year was great. I enjoyed the rest of the year after that.”

Malamazian is confident Smith will continue to succeed.

“I know he’ll do great things in professional baseball,” Malamazian said.

He also said Smith had an impact on him.

“Ryan was a mentor to me and a great leader who helped shape the rest of my high school career,” Malamazian said. “He taught me how to lead, which is a very important quality that I value very much.”

Smith also noted the connection between them.

“I loved Cooper to death,” Smith said. “I still remember sitting down with Coach Lee and talking to him about how important it was to let Cooper play and how much he wanted the team to win. It’s crazy that we both got drafted. I’m so happy for him.”

Smith said he’s ready for his next challenge: climbing the ladder to the major leagues.

“It’s a very rewarding feeling, especially since last year was probably the worst year of my life,” he said. “I didn’t get to play for a year and a half. I was a nobody, not being able to play. And then to see this happen, it’s a great feeling.”

Bobby Narang is a freelance journalist.