Oregon's Tanner Smith named National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball
After a sensational weekend that saw him make multiple entries into the Oregon record book, Tanner Smith has earned national recognition.
Smith, a fifth-year senior outfielder for the Ducks, was tabbed by Collegiate Baseball as one of the outlet’s national players of the week.
Throughout Oregon’s four-game sweep of Northwestern State at PK Park, Smith hit .643 (9-for-14) with four home runs, 10 RBI, two doubles, and seven runs scored. Smith posted a slugging percentage of 1.643 and notched a pair of three-hit games.
He homered in all four of Oregon’s wins over Northwestern State.
During the Ducks’ 16-1 win in the series opener, Smith notched the 247th base hit of his Oregon career, marking a modern-era school record. Smith surpassed former Ducks’ infielder Gabe Matthews, who played at UO from 2017-21 and is now in the Los Angeles Angels minor league system.
“So special. I have an immense amount of gratitude,” Smith said. “To think about all of the people that have helped me get to that point. All the coaches, all the players. There have been some unbelievable people that have helped me put a record like that up there and I have to give thanks to everybody that has.”
On Sunday, Smith became the first player in program history to homer in five consecutive games after he launched a two-run shot in the second inning to lead the Ducks to a 5-0 win.
“It was awesome,” Smith said. “It’s a great feeling to just break records. But I mean, I think it’s an even better feeling when we come away with a four-game sweep — seeing all the bats that came alive and stayed hot and seeing the pitching. The team clicked and it’s just so awesome.”
Smith, who earned third-team All-American honors with the Ducks in 2021, is in the midst of another stellar season.
In 22 games this spring, he is hitting .372 with a .468 on-base percentage and a .692 slugging percentage. He leads the Ducks with six home runs, seven doubles, 21 RBI, 29 hits, and 54 total bases.
Following last weekend’s sweep, the Ducks will now set their sights on a pivotal three-game series with Arizona (13-8, 3-5 Pac-12).
The series opener is set for Friday at 6 p.m. PT. Junior right-hander Jace Stoffal is expected to get the starting nod for the Ducks.
Oregon players who have earned Collegiate Baseball Players of the Week honors
· Tanner Smith (3/27/23)
· Josiah Cromwick (2/20/23)
· Brett Walker (4/5/21)
· Kenyon Yovan (3/8/21)
· Spencer Steer (4/15/19)
· Kenyon Yovan (4/30/18)
· Parker Kelly (3/12/18)
· David Peterson (5/1/17)
· David Peterson (3/13/17)
· David Peterson (3/7/17)
· Cole Irvin (5/2/16)
· David Peterson (3/6/16)
· Shaun Chase (5/5/14)
