MOUNT PLEASANT – Former Beal City standout and current Central Michigan two-way baseball player Cayden Smith has been named to two national award watch lists for the 2026 season.
Smith, a 2024 Beal City graduate, is one of 100 players on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List and one of 49 on the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award watch list.
The Wallace Award is given annually to the nation’s top shortstop, while the Olerud Award goes to the best two-way player in college baseball.
Smith, a sophomore pitcher and shortstop, has appeared in 15 career games on the mound, posting a 3-3 record over 26.2 innings. At the plate, he has a .250 batting average with four home runs and 28 RBI in 60 career games.
This season, Smith has recorded five hits and two RBI in 26 at-bats.