CBN Player of the Week, Week II: Cade Smith

Former Abbotsford Cardinals RP Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) had three saves for double-A Akron.

August 18, 2023

Canadian Baseball Network minor league player of the week for Week II

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

The surname* is ordinary.

The results are not.

Reliever Cade Smith worked three times out of the bullpen over the past week. And three times he picked up saves to earn Canadian Baseball Network minor league player of the week for Week II.

How the week that was went for Smith (Abbotsford, BC) of the double-A Akron RubberDucks in the Cleveland Guardians system:

_ Smith came on in the eighth inning of a one-run game against the Bowie Baysox, with runners on first and second. (“Thanks skip.) He issued a 3-2 walk to Shayne Fontana and struck out fifth-place hitter Donta’ Williams on a 2-2 pitch. In the bottom of the ninth -- now pitching with a three-run lead thanks to two runs in the top half -- he struck out Jacob Teter swinging and fanned Connor Pavolony looking. Then, he allowed a single to left by Gilbert Lara and a soft lined to left to Billy Cook. Facing the tying run Smith retired No. 2 hitter Heston Kjerstad on a ground ball. The Ducks shook hand after a 7-4 win at Prince George’s Stadium in front of 3,504. Smith threw 35 pitches (19 strikes).

_ Three nights later with a 7-5 lead, manager Rouglas Odor -- yes he’s related to Jose Bautista’s arch enemy Rougned Odor (an uncle) -- gave the ball to Smith in the bottom of the ninth. He retired fifth-place hitter Johnathan Rodriguez on a line out to right, walked pinch hitter Fontana, set down Zach Watson, who was called out on strikes and ended it as Prieto lined out. There were 3,885 witnesses on hand. Smith needed 19 pitches (13 strikes).

_ Two nights later Akron scored two in the top half of the 10th for a two-run lead and gave the ball to Smith, with the Manfred Magic Runner on second base. He retired No. 3 hitter Coby Mayo on a fly ball, clean-up hitter Cesar Prieto on a ground ball and popped up Cook to end it. There were 3,198 fans on hand. Smith had his most efficient outing needing only five pitches (five strikes).

*The most common surname in the game is Garcia, followed by Perez and Smith sits third, according to a 2022 survey.

Highlight of Week _ Edouard Julien (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) was called up to Major League roster by the Minnesota Twins from St. Paul Saints at triple-A International League, and made his major debut on April 11, 2023 versus Chicago White Sox. On April 12 at Yankee Stadium, he led off the game with a base hit his first in the majors, and later in a Twins bat-around, nine-run first he hit a home run. Thanks to Kevin Glew in his weekly But What Do I Know column on the Canadian Baseball Network, it was revealed that in doing so, Julien became the very first player in the modern era, to record his first ever career base hit and his first career home run in the same inning. It would seem, all that’s left so say is “welcome to he big leagues Edouard.”

Best Offensive Performances

Name Class Team AB RUNS HITS HR RBIs AVG

Abraham Toro AAA Nashville 20 3 8 - 3 .400

David McCabe A Augusta 15 2 6 1 3 .400

Tanner Kirwer AA Arkansas 21 7 8 1 4 .381

Owen Caisse AA Tennessee 21 5 7 4 9 .333

T.J. Schofield-Sam A Stockton 19 4 6 - 2 .316

(Minimum 10 AB’s required)

Best Pitching Performance

Name Class Team GM WIN SAVE ERA INN K WHIP

Cade Smith AA Akron 3 - 3 0.00 3.1 4 1.290

Cade Smith has assumed his usual role as closer with double-A Akron Rubber Ducks, and this week he made three solid appearances, securing a save each time. On April 11 in a 7-4 win over Bowie Baysox, he threw 1 1/3 innings allowing two base hits zero runs while striking out three Bowie hitters, to earn the save. On April 14, in another win over Bowie, he pitched one scoreless, hitless inning while striking out one batter, and picked his second save of the week. His final appearance was on April 16 in a 4-2 win over the Baysox, he had a clean slate of one scoreless inning with zero hits, for his third save in Week II. His overall record with Akron to date in four double-A Eastern League appearances now stands at 0-0, with four saves and a 0.00 ERA.

Previous Players of the Week

Week I _ Edouard Julien (Ancienne-Lorette, Que.) triple-A St. Paul Saints (Twins)

Week II _ Cade Smith (Abbotsford, BC) double-A Akron RuberDucks (Guardians).