Former Nazareth standout Ryan Smith never took his eyes off the ball.
Smith had a rocky freshman season at Illinois-Chicago in 2022 and 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 this past season and was better than ever, landing on MLB scouts’ radars.
“I always knew he was special,” Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. “Ryan really fought back to show the caliber of player he is. Some guys would’ve given up, but not Ryan. He turned adversity into a positive and used it as a motivation for him.”
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 picked by the Houston Astros in the ninth round of the MLB draft.
“I was so pumped,” Smith said. “I knew it was going to happen, but it was a matter of when. I was super excited.”
One day later, former teammate Cooper Malamazian, a 2024 Nazareth graduate who has committed to Indiana, was selected in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I was definitely in a lot of shock, and it took a long time to process,” Malamazian said. “The last few days have been crazy because it’s an awesome experience that not many people get to have.”
Milano called it a historic week 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 picked 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 here at games at Nazareth. It speaks volumes about his commitment to his community. It’s also awesome for the program.”
Smith, a Westchester native, pitched sparingly in his first three years at Nazareth before a stellar senior season, when he recorded a 2.31 ERA in 39 innings. Then he posted an 8.74 ERA in just six games, including one start, in his freshman season at UIC.
“It’s kind of crazy he really blew up to the pro guys this year,” Milano said. “It really shows his work ethic. His velocity kept climbing. I think he hit a new personal best six times.
“I knew he had a live arm in his freshman season with us. He pitched a little, 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 in. He never played in the outfield in his life. He didn’t have any Division I offers (before) 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 the reason I got hurt. All that time, from my injury to the COVID season, gave me time to develop.
“That game was the best thing to happen to me. I knew it couldn’t get any worse, so I just had fun. The rest of the year was lights out. I enjoyed the rest of the year after that.”
Malamazian is confident Smith will continue to succeed.
“I know he will do great things in pro ball,” Malamazian said.
He also said Smith made an impact on him.
“Ryan was a mentor for 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 such an important trait I value.”
Smith also noted the link between them.
“I loved Cooper to death,” Smith said. “I still remember sitting down with coach Lee and him talking about needing to let Cooper play and wanting the best for the team to win. It’s crazy both of us got drafted. I’m so happy for him.”
Smith said he’s ready for his next challenge: climbing up the ladder to the major leagues.
“It’s a very fulfilling feeling, especially since last year was probably the worst year of my life,” he said. “I wasn’t able to play for a year and a half. I was a nobody, not being able to play. And then to see all this happen, it’s a great feeling.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
