Final week, the Trois-Rivières Aigles introduced that they’ve re-signed utility participant James Smibert for the 2025 season.
Smibert, listed as a rookie within the Frontier League final yr, is absolutely solely a rookie in classification. He has had an extended and winding street in baseball earlier than finishing his first full season within the league.
The Mississauga, Ontario native is something however your typical Canadian. Rising up, it wasn’t ice skating and hockey, however American sports activities reminiscent of baseball, soccer and basketball that caught his eye.
He ended up in North Carolina the place he performed 4 years of NCAA D2 baseball on the College of Mount Olive.
Nevertheless in 2020, COVID lower his faculty profession quick. Smibert determined to deal with coaching and being ready when baseball resumed, however when the 2021 impartial baseball season rolled round, he discovered himself with out a workforce because of journey and visa restrictions.
I used to be initially signed to the Aigles, however sadly COVID had different plans, and that workforce was terminated for the yr.
Me and a few buddies determined to go to the Frontier League draft and see if we might have an opportunity on the different US groups, not realizing on the time we had no probability as a consequence of visa limitations and restrictions.
From there, I impromptly booked a final minute flight to Ogden, Utah to tryout for the Ogden Raptors within the Pioneer League.
Quick story quick, I had the most effective tryout of my life and was requested to stay round and be with the workforce, and they’d work to get me a visa. Sadly it was too late and the visa would take too lengthy. After a month on the workforce I made a decision that I didn’t have time to sit down round and simply apply anymore, I wanted recreation reps and that led me to Joe Torre and the Black Sox.
So I booked one other flight to Washington, PA and ended up enjoying within the Yinzer League. It was a spot the place I might develop and be on the sphere and play on a regular basis. On the finish of the yr, I obtained known as as much as play in Canada for a collection with Sioux Metropolis within the American Affiliation. It was just for a number of video games, however being there, I knew I belonged and will play this recreation at a aggressive stage, and I’d do every thing in my energy to provide my probability the most effective alternative to get again there enjoying in one of many prime 4 Indy ball groups.
The subsequent offseason I picked up all my stuff and moved to Florida throughout the Canadian winter so I may very well be on the sphere and get as many stay at-bats and play as many video games as potential
I can’t say sufficient optimistic issues about Joe Torre and the Black Sox. He’s helped me quite a bit and given me alternatives to compete at a excessive stage and develop… Not solely as a baseball participant, however as a greater human being. I’ve developed a relationship that goes past the sport: from travelling across the nation, to residing on couches, to creating life lengthy associates within the course of.
It’s not at all times simple once you’re going by way of it. There are occasions you need to give up, however you gotta discover a strategy to preserve pushing and preserve going.
After a style of professional ball, Smibert began the 2022 season with a quick stint within the Atlantic (1 recreation with the Charleston Soiled Birds) and the Frontier (8 video games with the Québec Capitales) Leagues earlier than heading to the Intercounty Baseball League. The IBL is the highest impartial baseball league in Canada with groups comprised of elite faculty gamers in addition to former skilled (together with ex-MLB and MiLB) gamers.
He performed two seasons growing and enjoying every single day within the IBL. He considers it an excellent transfer in the direction of being an every single day participant in the next indy league.
The competitors Within the IBL is excellent particularly from the highest groups. There’s some very proficient gamers which have performed impartial ball, excessive stage faculty, affiliate ball and even former MLB gamers.
The factor that the IBL falls quick on is the general depth throughout the league; Nevertheless even with that being mentioned, it is vitally aggressive.
The IBL is a good way to develop and play infront of 1000’s of followers each night time. The workforce that I performed for was the Welland Jackfish, and we routinely had two to 3 thousand followers at each recreation.
The Welland Jackfish was a firstclass group and, I’d say, essentially the most skilled workforce within the league. We had workforce buses to the video games, pre and publish recreation meals, and the gamers get taken care of very properly. Welland is a small city, however the members of the city actually rally across the workforce and the gamers. It’s like one large household.
The expertise within the league is excellent and results in many opporunities. Many gamers, particularly coming by way of Welland, have had success on the subsequent stage. Some names that come to thoughts embrace James Bradwell, Justin Gideon, Brendon Dadson and Jake Polancic to call a number of.
After two seasons in Canada, he headed down beneath to Perth to play a season of winter ball in sunny, summer season Australia.
Enjoying in Australia was an enormous stepping stone for me. It positively helped with my growth. I used to be capable of play video games a few occasions per week. As well as, I used to be capable of work a full time job. The local weather was ultimate. I lived in Perth, Western Australia, and I don’t assume it rained greater than 3 occasions once I was there. This gave me an excellent alternative to be outdoors and play with an excellent group of men.
I performed on a workforce known as the Mellville Braves, a profitable group within the state league. I used to be surrounded by numerous proficient gamers, some who performed in affiliated ball. Others represented austrailia in world competitions.
I’m very grateful for my teammates and the relationships I shaped over there. It was actually a as soon as in a lifetime alternative.
That after in a lifetime alternative even concerned a brief call-up to the Perth Warmth within the Australian Baseball League, the highest impartial league in Australia. He posted a .250 common in 4 video games with the Warmth.
With COVID restrictions lifted and yet one more season of growth beneath his belt, Smibert headed to the 2024 Frontier League draft.
The Frontier League tryout is a really lengthy day. There are tons of of gamers from all around the nation and world coming to the tryout with the hopes of getting drafted. There’s numerous sitting round, speaking with the gamers, and hanging out. However when your title is named it’s time to carry out, no excuses.
And carry out he did. Smibert was given one other shot with the Trois-Rivières Aigles and by no means appeared again. He performed in 80 video games throughout the 2024 season with a .246 common, 5 HR and 35 RBI. The utility participant proved to be stable draft choose who shortly turned a mainstay within the lineup.
Together with his resigning for the 2025 season, it’s clear to see that the lengthy and winding street full of obstacles past his management helped develop Smibert right into a invaluable help within the Frontier League.
He has even turned that journey into his personal firm and clothes line, Smack Smack.
“Smack Smack isn’t simply gear—it’s a narrative. Every bit embodies the hardships, tribulations, and journey to success.
There’s numerous life classes and invaluable info that I’ve discovered by way of this complete course of. By all of the ups and down, I wouldn’t change any of it. Not solely has it made me a greater baseball participant but in addition a greater man. Smack smack ! – James Smibert
