Two Rams Baseball Stars Make the Leap to the Majors

Former Rams outfielder Greg Smith(CBA ’06) and pitcher Javier Martinez, a Fordham junior, were drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals, respectively, in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. During his senior season at Fordham, Smith hit .376 (68-181) with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs, 46 runs scored and a .696 slugging percentage, all team highs for the Rams this year. He was selected in the 14th round of the draft, and is playing for the Pirates’ New York-Penn League affiliate, the Williamsport Crosscutters. Martinez, who was selected in the 42nd round by the Washington Nationals and is playing in the Alaskan Summer League, was a three-time Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week and co-MVP of the team in 2006. Smith and Martinez are the fourth and fifth Fordham baseball players to sign a professional contract in the past five seasons, joining Rob Semerano (2004), Bobby Kingsbury (2002) and Jason Conlisk (2002).

By Joe DiBari