University of Tennessee Athletics
2014 Tennessee Baseball Roster
Roster
Taylor Smart
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 180
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Maple Valley, Wash.
Former Tennessee Volunteer Taylor Smart enters his first season as a student assistant coach in 2017. His duties on the coaching staff include helping Assistant Coach Larry Simcox with infielders, working with hitters and he will be the first base coach during games.
The Washington native played two seasons at Western Nevada College prior to transferring to Tennessee. There, he led Western Nevada to a 45-15 overall record and the Scenic West Conference championship in 2011. Smart recorded a .427 on-base percentage with 37 walks and nine stolen bases while hitting primarily out of the two-hole to earn All-Region and First Team All-Conference accolades as a freshman.
He went on to lead the team with 53 runs scored while posting a .407 on-base percentage with 34 RBI and 12 stolen bases during his sophomore campaign to garner Second Team All-Region honors and help the Wildcats reach the 2012 JUCO World Series.
As a junior on Rocky Top, Smart finished his junior campaign batting .267 with nine doubles, two home runs, and 19 RBI. He also led the Vols in walks (23) and sacrifice flies (3).
In 2014, Smart played in 53 of 54 games for the Vols, starting 50 at third and two at shortstop. He wrapped up his senior campaign by hitting .292 with nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, 37 runs scored and 29 RBI. Smart also tied his career best six-game hitting streak (March 23-April 4) in which he was an impressive 11-for-24 (.458) with four doubles, five runs scored, one homer and eight RBI.
Smart was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 26th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He went on to play 44 games in the minor leagues with the Everett AquaSox, tallying 12 RBI and 11 runs scored on 31 hits, before playing for the Amarillo Thunderheads in the Independent American Association. Smart recorded 33 hits and a team-leading five sacrifice hits while with the Thunderheads. The infielder then played a 17-game stint with the Wichita Wingnuts in which he notched 13 hits and 11 RBI.
In 2016, Smart played for the Windy City Thunderbolts in the Independent Frontier League. He led the team in triples (3) and sacrifice hits (4). Smart totaled 64 hits, 34 runs scored, seven doubles and 31 RBI.
Smart is completing his undergraduate degree in Sociology and will graduate in May.
