Gage Smith

Classroom

Smith was named ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2013, Capital One Academic All-District IV First Team (2013), four-time member of the FSU Dean’s List (3.5 or higher GPA), three-time member of FSU’s President’s List (4.0 semester GPA). He was honored on the All-ACC Academic Team twice (2012, 2013) and was three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll. He is a recipient of the Golden Torch Award for the highest GPA on the baseball team during the 2011-12 semester. He is double majoring in marketing and business management with an expected graduation date of spring 2014. After baseball he would like to either use his marketing degree to work for a Major League Baseball team or to work for a non-profit organization.

Character

Florida State head coach Mike Martin on Gage Smith: “This is a very special young man in that he was not on the team and not even allowed to be around the team when they were practicing for one full year in 2011. But instead of feeling sorry for himself and not working to get better, he preserved; he went out every day and got stronger, worked on a delivery that he could perfect and all the while keeping his grades close to a 4.0. I am very proud of this young man as a Seminole. If anybody deserves recognition and appreciation, it’s Gage Smith – the way that he’s always been a great teammate and always encouraging others to do the job in the classroom and in the community.”

Community

An active participant in the community, Gage and senior captain Justin Gonzalez have done a tremendous job in leading the charge to get other teammates on the Seminole Baseball team involved in the community. Gage has participated in several service projects including numerous instructional baseball camps, interacting with members of the Miracle League during their recreational days, talking about sportsmanship at local churches, reading to youth at local schools and local youth groups and assisting in several on-campus projects including – booster dinners, Halloween Night at soccer, canned food drive and the Gathering of the Chiefs.

Competition

Gage Smith returns for his third year after leading the Seminoles and the ACC in appearances in back-to-back seasons. He is at the forefront of a very deep Florida State bullpen in 2014. Smith has made 74 career appearances, all in relief, in his last two seasons, while posting a 9-2 record with a 2.68 ERA and four saves. Smith has registered 94.0 innings with 64 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .249 average. The right hander made a career-high 39 appearances as a sophomore in 2012 followed by 35 relief appearances as a junior. He struck out a career-high five batters in a season-high 2.2 innings of work against Wake Forest. The Tallahassee native finished the 2013 season on a high note as he did not issue a walk over his final five appearances including games in the ACC Tournament and NCAA Regional and Super Regional games.