Braves pick Smith in draft9 § 3rd round From atelt end wire report Smith said one thing that ap- rale 4 summer free agent sele a fast slider but not a aUdar p— Sullivan North left-handed pitcher Chad Smith was selected in the third round of the June Free Agent draft Monday by the Atlanta Braves and will be probably be assigned to Pulaski of the Appalachian League once he comes to terms with the Braves “I’m pleased” said the 6-5 220-pound Smith whose selection as the 57th player taken is believed to be the highest ever for a Kingsport player in the June draft "Atlanta may be the best place for me in the long run with them having just cut all of those pitchers” The New York Mets were also considering Smith according to Kingsport Mets officials but apparently weren’t prepared to take Smith as early as the Braves parently helped him be selected aa high as he was was the fact the Texas Rangers selected Georgia Tech pitcher Kevin Brown just ahead of the Braves in the first round of the draft The Braves needing pitching help then opted for high school pitcher Kent Mercker a lefthander out of Dublin Ohio “That was a big blow to them” said Smith “That helped my situation immensely That moved me up one slot Had Texas not taken Brown the Mets might have picked me ahead of the Braves” The Smith family received the news Monday afternoon by telegram from the Braves The telegram from Atlanta read: “Congratulations You are hereby notified that the Atlanta Braves Baseball Club selected you in the regular phase of the tion meeting for the purpose of negotiations a professional baseball contract By baseball rules this dub has exdusive rights to negotiate with you and it must be to initiate and negotiate with you within 15 days after the conclusion of the free agent meeting” It was signed by Paul Snyder the Braves’ director of scouting Smith said the no-hitter he pitched at Dandridge Saturday convinced the Braves that he had what it took to make it to the big leagues "They wanted to know that I had more than a fastball” said Smith "They liked my slider and the control I had with it They told me that I’d only have one breaking ball They say you can’t have two great curve balls They plan to work with me I’ll probably have a slow slider and and a curve1 "I’m glad wo got him” said Braves’ scout Ranee Pless "I worked hard on Chad I don’t know exactly what round he went in but I think he went pretty fast” Negotiations with Smith are expected to begin this weekend in Atlanta Smith and his parents Mr and Mrs Vernon Smith will fly to Atlanta Friday All the draftees will gather there and will work out in front of the Braves’s scouts Saturday morning They will then be evaluated and negotiations will follow Smith could be assigned to one of three Atlanta rookie-league teams — Pulaski Pocatello Idaho or Bradenton Fla — though Pless indicated that Pulaski was the most likely More on Page SB col 6 CHAD SMITH He’s a Brave