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Why this Tigers pitcher put his Major League Baseball dream on hold

By , Daily Memphian Updated: July 23, 2025 4:56 PM CT | Published: July 22, 2025 4:45 PM CT

James Smith IV has decided to put his professional baseball dream on hold for another year.

The Memphis pitcher and outfielder had a loose idea of how he would respond if taken in the MLB Draft.

If he were selected in the first 10 rounds, Smith said it would be a no-brainer to leave college. If he fell to the 11th or 12th rounds, then he might think about remaining in school for another year.

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Frank Bonner II

Frank Bonner II

Frank Bonner is the Memphis Tigers football beat writer. He is originally from Indiana but arrived in Memphis after spending two years in Tulsa, covering Oklahoma State football and basketball. He covered high school sports in Columbus, Indiana for two years before getting his Master’s degree in Sports Journalism at IUPUI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.

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