Big 12 baseball: Baylor catcher Josh Ludy is Oklahoman's Player of the Year

“Things definitely didn't fall for me the first 21/2 years,” he said, “but I got my chance and I've been able to play pretty well.”

Ludy made his chance, too, committing to improving his defense, one of the messages in that meeting with Smith.

“I was a little bit more of an offensive catcher, so defense was something I definitely needed to work on,” he said.

“I think I kind of always knew that I was a lot stronger offensively than defensively, but it got pointed out a little bit, too.”

Ludy listened.

And he learned.

But he didn't leave.

“He's a really special kid to me,” Smith said. “To see what he's become is really special. He really does play with his heart. And you look at him and that's not the first thing to come to mind. He's a big guy with power and an impressive looking guy.

“But to me, it's really what he plays with, heart.”