In March, the Boise State football team lost a Treasure Valley native to professional baseball. On Tuesday, coach Bryan Harsin announced the Broncos picked up a local player who is leaving baseball behind.
Mason Smith, a Rocky Mountain High graduate who has spent the last four seasons playing minor league baseball, will join the Broncos as a walk-on, Harsin said. Linebacker Joe Martarano, a Fruitland grad, left the team in March to play in the Chicago Cubs system. Smith was a fourth-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2013.
“His name has been brought up before, obviously knew about him, was coming to school here and decided he wants to play football,” Harsin said.