Chase Smartt proves 'You don't have to hear anything to be a great baseball player'

Video: Chase Smartt Doesn't Let Hearing Loss Hold Him Back
Charles Henderson High catcher Chase Smartt is likely to be picked in the first 10 rounds of the MLB Draft. See him in action

It was the fourth inning, and Charles Henderson (Troy, Ala.) coach Derek Irons could tell that the umpire was getting a little frustrated with freshman catcher Chase Smartt.

"I went out between innings and asked what was going on and he told me our catcher wouldn't do anything that he asked him to do," said Irons, who has led Charles Henderson to back-to-back state championships over the past two seasons. "He took that as a sign of disrespect and defiance. I apologized and told him that the whole situation was my fault, that I should have told him about Chase's condition."

The story illustrates possibly the only time in Smartt's incredible career at Charles Henderson that his "condition" came into play. While Smartt has won multiple honors as a heavy-hitting catcher for the Trojans, he has also been deaf since birth.

"Chase wasn't being defiant, he just couldn't hear what the umpire was saying," Irons continued. "Since that day I always make it a point at our plate meeting prior to the game that I explain the situation to the umpires and opposing coach."

Smartt's condition hasn't prevented him from becoming a potential high pick in the Major League Baseball Draft in June. In fact, Smartt believes that being hearing impaired has helped him in a way.

"My nerve endings were damaged when I was born so I was unable to hear. I was diagnosed with profound hearing loss, which is the highest degree of hearing loss," said Smartt. "I have not had any problems playing sports since I was a young kid. I really believe being hearing impaired has helped me be more aware of my surroundings and be a better player."

According to Irons, Smartt's teammates have made an easy adjustment to dealing with his lack of hearing.

"The biggest thing for our team is just awareness. Everyone on the team has known Chase for most of his life, and they know about his hearing situation and that sometimes that takes some extra attention," said Irons. "The cochlear implants help tremendously. There are times during a game with a loud crowd that he has a difficult time hearing. His teammates will often help get his attention and direct it to the umpire, coach or teammate that is trying to relay a message."

Smartt wears cochlear implants while playing. He had surgery to implant the device when he was 2 years old.

"Cochlear implants act as the nerves that produce sound waves to the brain. They allow sound to be interpreted through an external microphone that attaches to my head," said Smartt. "The processor that I wear allows me to hear the sound and interpret the sound. I had to spend many hours when I was younger learning how to hear first and then learn how to interpret the sound."

Irons said he and the team have learned a great deal about hearing loss as a result of playing with Smartt.

"I had no idea what a cochlear implant was, and had never really considered what life would be like as a deaf person," said Irons. "It has definitely brought more awareness to me for what a deaf individual deals with on a daily basis."

While Smartt wears the implants while playing, he is unable to play certain sports as a result.

"I cannot play football due to the implants, but I would have loved to play," he said. "If I receive a direct blow to my head where the implants are located, it could damage them. I played soccer until I was 10, but when I quit that, I began playing baseball year-round."

There are times, however, when Smartt must play without the implants. But years of playing the sport have allowed him to smoothly make the adjustment.

"There have been several times over the years that my processor would stop working. Sometimes the batteries go dead or if it rains a lot, and my processor gets wet, I have to remove it," he said. "Either way, when I'm not wearing my processor, I can't hear anything, but I still have to play. I have learned to play the game without relying on the sound of things around me. I just react to the game and play. You don't have to hear anything to be a great baseball player."

Smartt is living proof of that statement. He began his career as an eighth-grader on the varsity team and hit a home run in his first game. As a senior, Smartt batted .523 with 50 RBIs, 54 runs, 19 doubles, four triples and seven home runs. He struck out just four times in 111 bats and was walked 26 times. He also stole 16 bases.

In between, Smartt was named the MVP of the Class 4A state championship series as a sophomore and he has twice been selected to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Team, earning Super State Team honors as a junior. He was also named the Class 4A Hitter of the Year as a junior when he led Charles Henderson to its second-straight state championship.

While Charles Henderson did not advance to the state championship game this year (it was eliminated in the third round by St. Paul's), the Trojans were ranked No. 1 in the state by the ASWA for 17 consecutive weeks. Prior to Smartt joining the varsity team, Charles Henderson had been ranked No. 1 only one time in school history.

Smartt has made his mark on the Alabama state record book as well. He ranks second all-time in career hits (290), third in doubles (74), eighth in batting average (.478) and ninth in RBIs (196).

According to Irons, Smartt is expected to be chosen somewhere between the seventh and 10th rounds in next month's MLB Draft. However, he said he will be attending Troy University next season, where his father will be coaching.

Irons feels that Smartt's work ethic, and the support of his parents, have made him the player he is today.

"Chase loves the game of baseball, and because of that he is a very hard worker," said Irons. "The success he has had over his career is a direct result of his work ethic. He's been a great on-field leader for our team for the past three seasons.

"Chase has tremendous support from his family. His father Mark is an assistant baseball coach at Troy University and he will take over as head coach next season. His mother Debbie is a volleyball coach in our school system. His sister Taylor played softball at Troy and is now the volunteer assistant there. They are all four a very close family that supports one another tremendously. During Chase's surgeries and setbacks along the way they have always been a fantastic support system for him."

Irons also feels that baseball has helped Smartt overcome any hurdles his hearing loss may have placed in his way.

"Baseball has been a great outlet for him. His worth ethic and attitude have allowed him to make tremendous success throughout his career," said Irons. "The reality is that on the baseball field he's really not that much different from anyone else."