Smiddy (photo: user submitted)
By Jesse Smithey
When Landon Smiddy and his mother visited the campus at East Tennessee State on Wednesday, they knew it was a fit the more they explored the Johnson-City-based university.
“We both loved it,” said Smiddy. “We were both instantly drawn to it.
“We loved everything about it.”
And so, with those feelings still swirling, Smiddy, a rising senior at Farragut, committed to play baseball the Bucs on Thursday. He announced his decision on Twitter.
A significant part of the Admirals pitching staff, Smiddy went 8-1 last season for the Admirals with, 41 strikeouts, 12 walks a save and a 1.59 ERA.
Increasing his stamina so he can go longer in games, while keeping his velocity, is the next step for his career. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Smiddy tops out at 91 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball. He also throws a circle-change and curveball.
ETSU gives him the best of both worlds, he said.
“I liked that it was a big D1 school with the feel of a small town,” Smiddy said. “It wasn’t overwhelming.”