White Sox Promote Dash Alumnus Smith to Big Leagues
April 24, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Chicago White Sox announced Sunday that catcher Kevan Smith, who played with Winston-Salem in 2012 and 2013, has earned a promotion to the Major Leagues for the first time in his career.
Smith becomes the 33rd Winston-Salem alumnus to reach the Major Leagues during the Dash era, which began in 2009. All but one of those suited up for the White Sox in their big league debuts.
The former Pittsburgh Panther, who started three games as the football program's quarterback before focusing on baseball, joined Winston-Salem late in July of 2012 and hit a grand slam in his Dash debut. Down the stretch that season, he posted a .281 average in 22 regular season games with the Dash and hit two critical home runs during the club's surge to the Mills Cup Finals.
The Cranberry Township, Penn., native spent all of 2013 in the Carolina League and hit .281 over 101 games. On the circuit, Smith finished in the top 10 in batting average (10th, .286), home runs (T-10th, 12) and RBIs (7th, 73). He was either first or second among catchers in those categories.
Following his stint in Winston-Salem, Smith earned an All-Star nod while in Double-A Birmingham in 2014. He was with Triple-A Charlotte throughout 2015 and had hit .345 with two homers and six RBIs in eight games with the Knights this year before his promotion.
Winston-Salem has graduated 341 players to the Major Leagues, with 33 of them coming since the nickname change to Dash prior to the 2009 season. Smith is the second Dash alumni to reach "The Show" for the first time this year. Right-hander Michael Ynoa joined the club on April 10 while Adam Eaton was on the Paternity List, but the White Sox game was postponed due to rain that day. He returned to the Minors the next day and is currently with Charlotte.
The red-hot Dash strive for a series sweep at Salem on Sunday before returning to BB&T Ballpark for a three-game series with Lynchburg from Tuesday to Thursday. Tuesday's series opener is the first All-You-Can-Eat for Free Night, and fans can purchase their tickets by calling (336) 714-2287 or visiting wsdash.com.
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call (336) 714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com.
Carolina League Stories from April 24, 2016
- Mudcats Fall Short in Series Finale, Lose 4-2 in Myrtle Beach - Carolina Mudcats
- Thorpe Pitches Pelicans to Series Win, Birds Defeat Mudcats 4-2 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Salem Edges Winston to Avoid Sweep - Winston-Salem Dash
- Salem Steals Series Finale from Winston-Salem, 3-2 - Salem Red Sox
- P-Nats Top Blue Rocks 3-1 in 12 Frames to Seal Five-Game Sweep - Potomac Nationals
- Extras Not Enough for Blue Rocks, Lose 3-1 in 12 Innings - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Hillcats' 10-Game Winning Streak Snapped in 5-2 Loss - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Wynns, Olesczuk Power Keys to 5-2 Win over 'Cats - Frederick Keys
- April 24 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- McLaughlin Transferred Back to Carolina; O'Neal to Danville - Carolina Mudcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (April 24 at Salem) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Former Pelican Cody Ege Called up to Big Leagues - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- White Sox Promote Dash Alumnus Smith to Big Leagues - Winston-Salem Dash
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
