As a fifth-year senior, Pitt catcher Kevan Smith held no leverage to negotiate in the MLB draft. So when the Chicago White Sox took him in the seventh round, the all-Big East slugger expected a token signing bonus.
“I was ready to sign for $1,000 and a plane ticket,” he said. “They ended up giving me $60,000.”
Smith provides a little more value than other Pennsylvania college bats this year because he’s a catcher. He has a football background and is a strong, physical player whose power trumps his hitting despite leading the team with a .406 average in 192 at-bats. He receives well enough and could profile well as a backup. Chester doesn’t have a great body, but has big power, leading the Panthers with 14 home runs.
Here’s his page at Pittsburgh.
UPDATE: And here are his College Stats:
| Year | AVG | GP-GS | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | SLG% | BB | HBP | SO | GDP | OB% | SF | SH | SB-ATT | PO | A | E | FLD% |
| 2011 | .397 | 54-54 | 209 | 59 | 83 | 17 | 4 | 11 | 56 | 141 | .675 | 22 | 8 | 20 | 5 | .465 | 4 | 0 | 10-11 | 201 | 29 | 5 | .979 |
| 2010 | .361 | 55-54 | 233 | 59 | 84 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 46 | 119 | .511 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 6 | .422 | 3 | 0 | 3-7 | 108 | 11 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2009 | .363 | 32-27 | 102 | 19 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 53 | .520 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 2 | .425 | 0 | 0 | 3-4 | 59 | 10 | 1 | .986 |
