Former player now searches for future royalty

Smith is a full-time scout for the Kansas City Royals, who have the first overall pick when the draft begins today at 1 p.m.

“It is exciting. There are going to be big-leaguers in this draft. It is a matter of finding them,” said Smith, a former infielder who played in the majors for the Cubs and Dodgers and for Triple-A Rochester in the Oriole system.

Smith has been a scout for the Royals for nine years. He covers Idaho, Montana, Washington, western Canada and Hawaii from Davenport, Wash., where he lives on a small farm with his wife and three daughters.

A former Sykesville resident, Smith said he drives about 35,000 miles a year for his job, and he estimates that he sees 300 to 400 games per year.

Last year he signed three players that the Royals drafted from his coverage area. That was the most players he signed from one draft since he joined the Royals.

Among the players he has signed is Jeremy Affeldt, who turns 27 today and had pitched in 10 games this season for the Royals through Sunday.

Does Smith feel comfortable as a scout after a long playing career?

“Of course. After four or five years . . . you can figure out where the good (high school and college) programs are,” he said. “There is a lot of luck involved. You get to know the players and their abilities.”

THE SMITH FILE

High school: Glenelg, class of 1985

Hometown: Sykesville

Major league teams: Cubs and Dodgers

Did you know? Last week the Royals named Dayton Moore as their new general manager. Moore played at George Mason University and was a promising executive with the Atlanta Braves under general manager and Towson University graduate John Schuerholz. … Baseball America reports that outfielder/first baseman Travis Snider, from Jackson High in Everett, Wash., is a top prospect for today?s draft … Smith helped sign three players who are now part of Single-A Burlington in the Midwest League.