Thomas Smith '21 Recruiting Profile

Hello, 

   My name is Thomas Smith and to say I love baseball would be an understatement. I grew up in the Czech Republic, the son of a teacher and a baseball coach.  My father introduced me to baseball before I could walk and we always played together. About the time I started school I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome . I was told I would be better suited to individual sports due to social interaction problems. I would not let that stop me from playing the sport I love. Through baseball I learned how to interact with others under stressful situations, how to work as a team and to value friendship on and off the diamond. Many who know me feel my disability is a gift on the field. I have always found baseball easy to play and understand while I struggled in many other areas. I guess my natural talent coupled with my baseball instincts and IQ has made me the player I am. Academically I work very hard to maintain good grades and often hear my mothers words "I wish school was as easy as baseball" . Some subjects are harder than others but I do enjoy History. I'm also in a mentoring program at school working with disabled children which I enjoy very much. I've had to and continue to overcome difficulties related to my aspergers. I am a friendly 15 year old kid who likes music and sports and feel that I'm a unique individual who possesses a gift for the game of baseball.