Robinson Smith, son of swimming legend, signs six-year MLB contract with Pittsburgh Pirates

He can pitch the ball at 152kmh and is named after one of baseball’s greatest legends. Now, it’s time for Australia’s latest teen sensation to take his first steps into Major League Baseball.

Young Aussie Robinson Smith, son of Olympic swimmer Nicole Livingstone will on Thursday sign a Major League Baseball deal with Pittsburgh. Picture: Tony Gough

Robinson Smith is not only living up to his sporting genetics, but also his unique name as he prepares for life in Major League Baseball.

The son of swimming legend Nicole Livingstone is set to sign a lucrative six-year deal with MLB club Pittsburgh Pirates, fulfilling a destiny since birth having been named after a baseball icon.

“Robinson is actually named after Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player in the MLB,” Livingstone said.

“We loved the story. In my lineage, we actually have African-American settlers to Bendigo that came from the US.

Young Aussie Robinson Smith, son of Olympic swimmer Nicole Livingstone will on Thursday sign a Major League Baseball deal with Pittsburgh. Picture: Tony Gough

“So we connected with that story and Jackie’s story. So my husband (Marty) actually has the number 42, not for (Collingwood AFL legend) Darren Millane, but for Jackie Robinson, tattooed on his leg.

“And that actually is a tattoo for our Robinson. We’ve got vision of him as a 14-month-old, barely able to walk, hitting and throwing baseball.

“He’s always loved it. But you can’t force something like this. You can’t influence something like this. He has to be good at what he does first. You can’t trick scouts.

“We’re really proud of how hard he’s worked and his passion for it.”

Undated. Jackie Roosevelt Robinson (R) slides home during baseball match. He was the first black player in baseball major league.

Smith, just 17, is already pitching at 95 miles per hour (152kmh). That speed will only increase, with the 195cm teenager aiming to grow from 80kg to 95kg with an intense weights program.

He had contract offers from other MLB clubs, but Smith knew his future was in Pittsburgh.

“You can definitely see with the Pirates how well their pitchers progress,” Smith said.

“So from a pitcher’s perspective, you can see how well and how quick they gain velocity and also command on their pitches.

“And with that, most of the time people move up quicker. All of the pitching coaches with the Pirates are just unreal.”

Talent scout Tony Harris, Pittsburgh’s senior adviser player personnel, said Robinson has all the attributes to become a starting MLB pitcher.

“Athletes like Robinson are rare,” Harris said. “We have been following his development for some time, and he possesses the physicality, athleticism, competitiveness, and work ethic that we seek in a young ballplayer.

“He enjoys playing on both sides of the ball, loves to hit, and has a fastball that consistently reaches the low to mid-90s (miles per hour). You put the whole package together, and it’s very exciting.

“I believe his future is on the mound, and he has the potential to play at the highest level, so it’s time to put in the work and aim for the big leagues.”

Young Aussie Robinson Smith will join the Pittsburgh Pirates. Picture: Tony Gough

Young Aussie Robinson Smith, son of Olympic swimmer Nicole Livingstone will on Thursday sign a Major League Baseball deal with Pittsburgh. Picture: Tony Gough

Smith won’t put a time frame on when he hopes to break through to the MLB, but his journey begins next month in Dominican Republic where the Pirates have a development base.

He will live there alongside 80 other rookies, before eventually moving to play lower leagues in Florida as he chases his MLB dream.

Smith is familiar with Florida, having spent most of last year there.

“The last seven months that I spent in Florida was definitely the turning point of my career, it was a very intense seven months,” Smith said.

“I was doing gym with a football coach, like an NFL coach, and just training with my normal coach over there, throwing a lot.

“I put on 10 kilos.”

Livingstone, the three-time Olympian who won bronze in the 200m backstroke in 1992, and silver and bronze in relay medley events in 1996, had hoped her son would follow in her footsteps to the pool.

Nicole Livingstone (nee Stevenson, second from left) at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

But while he was a talented junior, Smith made the decision to focus on baseball in his final year of primary school. Though he does use his mother’s achievements for inspiration.

“I do see a bit of inspiration in terms of the professional level,” he said.

“Just the experience and the learning process that you can get while you’re on an Australian team or away from home.”

Smith will become one of 27 Australians as a current contracted player for an MLB organisation.