RHP Carter Smith (Bishop Verot HS, FL), who is also a stellar quarterback, appears poised to blossom into one of the top arms in the country. Uber-athletic on the mound with moxie and supreme presence, Smith should see significant jumps as a pitching prospect over the next few years.

Smith was likely being saved on the mound for a later start, but was thrown into emergency relief work in the first round of the playoffs. Unphased by that, he calmly went 3.1 perfect innings, striking out three against a Nebraska Prospects team that had swung the bats well all game. Up to 89 mph, the uber-athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander sat mostly 86-88 pumping in heavy fastballs to both sides of the plate with considerable sink that included knocking off the catcher’s mitt with one pitch. A smooth mover with a short, continuous arm stroke that works quickly out front, there is plenty to dream on with regards to the upside. Also an elite quarterback prospect, Smith’s poise and mound presence oozes confidence, and should only help his upward progressions that are surely coming.