Naturals' Smith keeping dream alive

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Naturals' Smith keeping dream alive
06/01/2009 11:29 PM ET
By John Torenli / Special to MLB.com

Even when he was relegated to spending an entire season in the Independent Atlantic League two years ago, Corey Smith never gave up on his dream of reaching the Majors.
Judging from his performances of late, the former first-round pick is making another push for a shot at the big leagues.
Smith homered for the third straight game and drove in a career-high six runs Monday as the Northwest Arkansas Naturals crushed the Frisco RoughRiders, 11-2, before 4,014 fans at Arvest Ballpark.
"As long as I have a uniform on, there's still that chance," Smith said. "I'm hoping that one day I can see that dream fulfilled."
Selected 26th overall by the Cleveland Indians in 2000, Smith was unable to make his way to Jacobs Field, despite being touted as one of the top third-base prospects in the Minors. He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2001 after hitting .260 with 18 homers and 85 RBIs, but spent five years in the Indians system before being traded to San Diego in 2005.
Though he continued to hit for power -- reaching double digits in home runs in all but two of his first nine seasons -- Smith found himself playing for the Newark Bears in 2007. The Plainfield, N.J., native hit .274 with 18 homers and 72 RBIs for the Bears before getting another opportunity in the Angels' chain last year.
"It was very humbling," Smith admitted. "Going from first-round pick in Cleveland in 2000 to playing independent ball. But it helped me learn what kind of player I am. I played well enough to get a second chance."
Thus far, he's making the most of it.
Smith led the Southern League with 26 homers and drove in 80 runs for Double-A Arkansas before spending the final week of the 2008 campaign with Triple-A Salt Lake.
The Royals signed Smith to a Minor League deal in November, and he showed off his skills during Spring Training, batting .316 with a homer and eight RBIs. After a slow start with the Naturals, the 27-year-old slugger is once again finding his groove at the plate.
Smith connected for a solo shot in Saturday's series opener against Frisco, belted a two-run homer Sunday and finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored Monday.
After ripping an RBI single in the opening frame, Smith reached on a fielder's choice and scored in the third, delivered another run-scoring base hit in the fourth and capped his big night with a three-run blast, his ninth of the year, in the eighth.
"It was a slider," Smith said of reliever Jose Diaz's offering. "He was throwing a hundred miles an hour out there, but he left a breaking ball up and I got my swing off."
Though moving up the Kansas City system is still the primary goal for Smith, he's learned along the way that looking ahead rather than focusing on the present can be a mistake for a player determined to reach the Majors.
"I want to be in the big leagues," he said. "When that opportunity presents itself, I'll be excited. Right now, I can only worry about what's happening here. I can't think about that other stuff. I've been a victim of [looking ahead] before. You have to play well where you are."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.