Smith Forgoes Football, Signs With Detroit Tigers

Keith Smith, the leading passer in California high school history, signed a six-figure deal with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, giving up a scholarship to play quarterback at Arizona.

Smith signed for a $200,000 bonus, plus a $50,000 college scholarship, he said. Smith, who graduated Friday from Newbury Park High, was the Tigers’ fifth-round pick in the amateur draft earlier this month.

“I just think this is what I needed to do to fulfill my dream of being a pro athlete,” Smith said. “It’s what I always wanted to do. I just think it would have been taking a risk playing football at that level because they are so big compared to me.”

Smith, who is 6-feet, 180 pounds, will fly on Monday morning to Bristol, Va., site of the Tigers’ affiliate in the rookie-level Appalachian League.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Smith said. “It’s going to be tough going away from home for the first time, but it will be fun.”

Although most scouts considered Smith a top prospect as an outfielder because of his speed and arm strength, Smith will play shortstop at Bristol.

“He has a big league shortstop’s arm,” Tiger scout Dennis Lieberthal said. “He’s very quick. He could be a base-stealing threat once he learns how to steal in the big leagues. This guy could go out in the minors and steal 40-60 bases a year.”

Smith played center field until this season, when he moved to shortstop to fill the void left by David Lamb, who was a second-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles last year.

“He’s not really smooth because he’s never really played (shortstop),” Lieberthal said of Smith. “By the time he goes through his first season, we’ll know and he’ll know if he can play that position. And he can always play center field.”

Smith batted .352 with three home runs and 19 stolen bases this season to help the Panthers win the Marmonte League championship. As a pitcher, he was 6-4 with a 2.80 earned-run average.

Still, he is better known for throwing a football.

Smith passed for a state-record 9,971 yards in his career. He is second nationally to Josh Booty of Shreveport, La., who, interestingly, was a first-round selection of the Florida Marlins as a shortstop in the baseball draft this month.

In his senior year, Smith passed for a state-record 4,244 yards and 40 touchdowns, leading the Panthers to a 14-0 record and the Southern Section Division III championship.

He was the top quarterback recruited by Arizona, according to sources within the program, and he signed with the Wildcats in February, turning down offers from Colorado, San Diego State and UCLA. Smith planned to play baseball at Arizona.

But Smith’s stock as a baseball player rose steadily during the season. Just before the draft, Baseball America magazine tabbed him the 30th best prospect in the nation.

Because of questions about the amount of money it would take to sign Smith, he slipped all the way to the fifth round, when the Tigers took him with the 137th pick.

The Tigers bonus offer, however, is the size usually given to players selected in the second round. Three of the area’s four second-round picks last year signed for cash bonuses equal to or less than Smith’s.

In the end, it was an offer to good to pass up.

“This was the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “If you could have been in this house and seen what I’ve been going through, it’s unreal. I’m glad it’s over.”