Eli Smucker grew up in the small town of southeastern Pennsylvania known as Strasburg. He’s the youngest of seven brothers and by far the most athletically gifted. His 6’3”, 210-pound frame is genetically sculptured. He doesn’t belong to a gym. He has never played organized sports up until the age of 19, and even then, he only practiced with other players. His next competitive game will be his first. That’s because Eli grew up in an Amish family.
The Amish culture shuns the mainstream. Home, school, the farm, and workplace are in lockstep, tied together through the family.