Michael Alexander Smith (born December 1, 1969, in Piqua, Ohio) is a former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

. Smith attended

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

. While playing at Indiana from 1989 to 1992, Smith had one of the most explosive careers in NCAA baseball history. In 1992, he became the only Division I player ever to win the Triple Crown. He batted .490 with 27 home runs and 95 RBI during his senior campaign to lead the nation in all three categories. Those numbers earned him first-team All-America honors, a first team All-Big Ten selection for the second season in a row (1991–92), and Big Ten Player of the Year honors. He was also named the Sporting News National Player of the Year and was a recipient of the R.E. "Bob" Smith Award, which is awarded by the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) to its College Baseball Player of the Year. Smith was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 5th round (146th overall) of the

1992 Major League Baseball Draft The 1992 Major League Baseball draft took place on June 1, 1992, through a conference call involving all 28 MLB teams of the time. Phil Nevin of Cal State Fullerton was the first overall selection, chosen by the Houston Astros. Derek Jeter, select ...

. He played five seasons in the

minor leagues Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

, all in the Rangers' farm system. His final professional season was 1996, which he spent with the Oklahoma City 89ers.

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1969 births Living people Indiana Hoosiers baseball players Gastonia Rangers players Charlotte Rangers players High Desert Mavericks players Tulsa Drillers players Oklahoma City 89ers players Baseball players from Ohio {{US-baseball-infielder-stub