After dominating NY-Penn League hitters for the first month and a half of the 2006 season, Cyclones closer Joe Smith has become the first player in team history to make the jump to Double-A Binghamton directly from Brooklyn.

"I'm excited," said Smith on BrooklynCyclones.com after hearing about the call-up. "I loved playing in the city, but I feel like I'm ready.”

Racking up 28 K’s in 20 innings with a 0.45 ERA, Smith was easily the most dominant Cyclone pitcher this season and was a huge part of the team’s current 10-game winning streak. Talking to reporters after Smith’s last appearance at Keyspan on July 25 against Mahoning Valley, Cyclones manager George Greer admitted what a vital part of the pitching staff Smith was.

“He’s just phenomenal. When you bring him into the game he just has this cold stare in his eyes and you know he’s focused and you’re going to get his best,” said Greer. “If it’s his best against their best, then my money’s on him.”

Making his Double-A debut tonight, Smith, seemed a little nervous, giving up a walk and a single against New Britain, but eventually regained his form getting two fly outs and making a great defensive play on an attempted sacrifice bunt, eventually throwing a scoreless inning in his first appearance for the B-Mets.

To cope with Smith’s departure, the Cyclones will have a closer by committee situation the rest of the year, consisting of Jose De La Torre, Grady Hinchman and Jeremy Mizell. While many of the Coney Island faithful are concerned with the gap created in the bullpen created by his departure, it would be impossible not to admire the focus and dedication Smith exhibited in Brooklyn that eventually landed him on the B-Mets.

Smith himself even expects to be back in New York area in the future, but if things go according to plan, it won’t be for the Cyclones.

“Who knows, maybe someday I'll be back playing in New York."