Great Lakes Wire

Angelo Smith has had quite the journey from his time growing up in Calumet Park, Illinois, to pitching at the University of Michigan.

The pitcher, known as “Gelo,” is recognized for being a “funny, humble, and lovable veteran” of the Wolverines but he is also known for being a hero in his hometown, according mgoblue.com report. Smith is on his way to being the first person in his family to graduate college and has been an inspiration to his community.

"When I was playing baseball, my friends were roaming around in the streets," Angelo said to mgoblue.com. "Fortunately, baseball kept me busy enough to stay out of the streets. Baseball saved my life, and that's why I am [at Michigan] today.”

Smith used to watch his father play shortstop in men’s league games and followed in the footsteps of his brother who played ball at Illinois Central, according to the report. His brother played only one year in college, but that was enough of an inspiration for Smith to play at the Division 1 level.

Smith showed talent at an early age, making the varsity team as a freshman in high school and played in the Chicago White Sox Ace Program, the report stated. The program helped pay for his equipment and enabled him to travel to games where college coaches and scouts could see him.

All but one player on Smith’s White Sox Ace Program team played college baseball, according to mgoblue.com.

Playing with the White Sox Ace Program also led him to be able to play at the home of the Chicago White Sox: Guaranteed Rate Field, according to the report. Smith was invited to the Double Duty Classic in 2016 that features the best inner-city high school baseball players in the country. During that contest Smith pitched two shutout innings.

"I definitely want to go back and let others know that you can make it out and don't have to go through the streets," Smith told mgoblue.com.. "I want to really let them know that you don't just have to play basketball or football -- baseball is an option, too."