The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Versatile Courtney Smith, who made the transition from a shortstop and outfielder to catching, is the latest Bahamian to sign a professional contract, inking his name on the dotted line with the Texas Rangers yesterday at the Courtyard Marriott.

Flanked by family and church members from Miracle Revival Fellowship and four of the 15-plus Bahamian players currently playing in the minor leagues - Jasrado 'Jazz' Chisholm (Arizona Diamondbacks), Dominic Collie (Arizona Diamondbacks), Lucius Fox Jr (Cleveland Indians) and Larry Alcine Jr (Cleveland Indians) - Smith signed his undisclosed deal for his "long-awaited" opportunity.

Smith, 21, signed the deal under the supervision of former pro player Albert Cartwright and Geron Sands, organisers of the Island Elite Group, along with Cliff Terracuso, the Texas Ranger's scout for the South area, including Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.

"It's unreal, but at the same time, I earned it. I worked hard for it," said Smith, the epitome of what perseverance is all about. "It was tough, but I am here today, thanks to I Elite, my family and friends. So I feel very good."

On Tuesday afternoon, Smith said he got the call from Cartwright, congratulating him and then Sands confirmed the message in a follow-up call to give him the details. He was informed that Terracuso was en route from Florida today to complete the paper work and prepare him to head to the Dominican Republic where he will go through the Texas Rangers' formality before he reports to their spring training camp.

"I'm excited. I'm excited to be a Ranger and to start a new chapter in my journey. It's going to be tough, but it's going to be a lot of fun living your dreams," said Smith in his black pants, white shirt, black bow tie and a Texas cap on his head.

In staying focused as he watched so many other players sign their contracts over the last two years, Smith said with the help of Fox and Todd Isaacs of the Cleveland Indians, he continued to trust the process and relied on Cartwright and Sands to keep him abreast of everything that was taking place.

"Even though I felt discouraged along the way, I realised that when it's written for you, it's written for you and no one can take that away from you," said Smith, who considers himself an "outstanding guy, outgoing and what he believes in he goes for."

Over the years, Smith used his exposure to softball where he played the three positions to help keep him sharp for baseball, but he said "catching just took its place as it found me" and when he goes to the pro ranks, he said his goal is to be the best "catcher" that the Bahamas has ever seen as he goes on to "win awards. The sky is going to be the limit. I just want to win everything and do everything."

Despite the fact that he felt his head has not always been on the right path, Smith thanked God for putting him back on the right course, his family for supporting him and Cartwright and Sands who brought him up as their son. He also thanked Courtyard Marriott for hosting his signing and accommodating him and his family, friends and Church members, who "love and care" for him.

His mother Chantelle Forbes said his only son among three girls was also special and she was proud to support him in all of his endeavours.

"I'm happy for Courtney. He's been trying so hard to actually get to this point," she pointed out. "There were a lot of disappointments along the way, but he seemed focused. Every morning he would pray and ask God for his guidance and to make sure that this was the actually path that he wanted him to go. When things are not going the way you want it to go, you have to ask for guidance.

"He continued to pursue his dreams and whenever any opportunity came, he would always take it. When there was any local function going on, he would always go and play. So when he got the call yesterday (Tuesday), it was what he was waiting on. So I want to congratulate him and to let him know that I will always be there for him. He's still young, but I'm so excited for him."

Terracuso, back in town after a month ago to sign Keithron Moss, who is now in the Dominican Republic training, said they expect that Smith will report to the Dominican Republic in a few days to get acclimatized to the Rangers' brand of baseball. Following that, he will head to spring training camp in Arizona in early March. He said Smith is definitely the real deal.

"He checks out a lot of the characters and make up of what we look for," said Terracuso, who thanked Courtyard Marriott for hosting him. "We know what kind of kids we are getting and it's so easy for us to turn them over to our Player Development programme. We know what we are getting in Courtney. His work ethic is very good. He's a very good baseball player and his hard work is what sets him aside.

"Wherever he go from here is all up to him, how hard he works and what he does with his opportunities. Nothing will be given to him in life or in baseball. He has to earn it. As long as he continues to work hard, he will be able to accomplish what he dreamed, which is to be a professional baseball player, which he is today and be a major leaguer. That will take some years in minor league to out-work everybody, but he has the tools to do it."

Terracuso, however, said none of Smith's accomplishments would have been achieved without the assistance from Cartwright and Sands, whom he credited for the manner in which they have groomed the players.

"They understand the game, the love the players here and they do a good job of guiding and training the players here, training them what's right and what's wrong and how to train and how to become a professional baseball player," he pointed out. "So I have to give a lot of credit to Island Elite. Those guys are amazing. They do a great job for baseball here in the Bahamas."

Cartwright, formerly a 10-year veteran of the minor league before he retired last year, has been grooming Smith like a "son" through his "ups and downs," so he called it a great day for him and the Island Elite organization because it's not everyday that a player at age 21 gets a shot at a pro contract.

"I'm just glad that he got the opportunity to play professional baseball," said Cartwright, who along with retired Major leaguer Antoan Richardson were the pacesetters for the youngsters now playing in the minor league. "He's one step closer to that dream of playing major league. He went through the journey and he understands what it is he has to do. So he has to take it for what it's worth and enjoy every moment of it because you never know when it's your last time playing."

Cartwright, a talented second baseman who just fell short of getting in the major's, said obviously the Rangers see something in him and he will definitely make them proud of that decision to sign him.

For Sands, it's been a long process, but they are glad that it's all over.

"He didn't have it easy all his life, but he kept on fighting for it," he said. "Courtney has been in the trenches for at least three years now, working with us, traveling back and forth to the Dominican Republic and the US trying to get workouts, working out with teams. He didn't let no deter him once or twice. He went back to the drawing board, did some stuff differently and now here he is signing his contract."