SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball announced the fifth member of the 2021 recruiting class, Sam Smith, a 6-foot-6 two-way player from Reno High School in Reno, Nevada.

"I chose Santa Clara because of how well I felt Coach Filter and the rest of the coaching staff connected with me," said Smith.  "They really made me feel welcomed and that they would do their best to help me succeed athletically and academically."

The right-handed throwing and hitting Smith appeared in 17 games for the Huskies, holding opponents to a .181 batting average including .138 to right-handed hitters.  Smith used his frame to provide a big target at first base and also starred on the hardwood where he averaged 4.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game during the 2019-20 season.

"Sam is a talented multi-sport athlete who is slated as a top pitcher in the state of Nevada.  At 6-foot-6 with an upper 80's fastball, we expect his physicality to have an immediate impact on our program," said Broncos head coach Rusty Filter.  "This will be our third year in a row to receive a player from Coach Pete Savage at Reno High, and when you come through an elite program under Coach Savage, we know Sam will be ready to compete."

The other Reno High products signed by Filter and his staff include right-handed pitcher August Souza in the 2019 recruiting class and two-way player Skylar Hales in last season's recruiting class.

Our next future Bronco, Johnny Tarantino, will be announced the week of December 21.