Many Little Leaguers dream of one day playing in the Majors, but Conner Smith was different. Back in 2013, Smith’s South Nashville team reached the Little League World Series, and he was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. “I want to be a songwriter,” he said.

Nearly a decade later, Smith has a budding country music career. He released his debut EP “Didn’t Go Too Far” on Friday.

Smith, whose song “I Hate Alabama” became a viral hit among college football fans last year, also made Spotify’s Hot Country 2022 Artists to Watch list on Tuesday.

Little League Baseball’s official Twitter account congratulated the 21-year-old on the EP release and included the video of his introductory interview from the 2013 Little League World Series, in which Smith not only shared his dream of a songwriting career but also took the opportunity to show off his singing voice.

Smith isn’t the only member of the 2013 South Nashville Little League team making waves. His former teammate Robert Hassell III, an outfielder, was selected eighth overall by the Padres in the 2020 MLB Draft and is San Diego's No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.