The Reel: Meet James "Smack Smack" Smibert
The Welland Jackfish have brought back a big piece of the puzzle from their 2023 championship team.
Popular infielder James Smibert, who was released by Trois-Rivières of the Frontier League, had kept in contact with the Jackfish and quickly signed up for a sequel in the Rose City.
“I figured I’d come back here, play more, be with the boys, win a championship,” the 29-year-old Mississauga native said. “That was the main reason for coming back and I’m also aging out of the Frontier League next year.
“The Jackfish make it easy. It’s a great program, it’s the most professional team in the league. They just do it right. We have a bunch of good guys. You look around and you have ex-big leaguers and guys who played in college. It is slightly downgrade, but I think the competition is here and I’m here to win.”
Smibert, who batted .363 for the Jackfish in 2023, feels the IBL may be the best fit for him now, on and off the field.
“It’s good baseball. I get the baseball fix and can focus on some other business things that I do,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger. There’s different areas of life. You can’t play baseball forever. It always comes to an end, but this allows me to play for as long as I want to.”
Away from the diamond, Smibert, who has an undergrad in kinesiology from the University of Mount Olive in North Carolina, runs his own business, Smack Smack (https://www.smack-smack.com/) which is a personal clothing line and has branched into batting gloves as well.
Smibert says his time in the Frontier League was a big benefit and helped him deal with life as professional.
“It’s an adjustment from playing twice, three times a week, and then you’re thrown into the fire over there and you play every day,” he said. “You’re dealing with different stuff, you’re never gonna feel good, your body’s gonna be in pain some days, and you’re dealing with injuries, but that’s just the game. It’s a lot of fun though, playing baseball every day.
“Yeah, it definitely helped and I think I got a lot better just being around other good athletes and good players and just learning from them and growing and facing good competition every night.”
Jackfish manager Brian Essery welcomed Smibert back with open arms.
“It’s more than what he provides on and off the field,” he said. “Obviously, a great player on the field, but he brings so much to the community. Just a great presence to be around. Happy guy. He’s always positive. And man, he slides right in the middle of my lineup.
“We needed that piece. We needed that in one more bat in the middle of our lineup. And he fills that just perfectly. Last time he was with us he won a championship. We’re hoping that he brings it again for us.”
Jackfish general manager Jason McKay didn’t have to think twice about bringing back Smibert.
“A team guy, knows the organization, grew up with us a little bit too, right back from 2022 onward,” he said. “We’ve been staying in constant contact with him ever since he left. It as easy transition to come back and we couldn’t be happier.”
Smibert has played both third and first since his return and is expected to continue to hit in the middle of the lineup.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s fun being out there playing with the boys in front of a packed out crowd every night,” he said.