PITTSBURGH — It took six seasons and donning the uniform of a fourth major league team to make it happen.

But Seneca Valley graduate Kevan Smith has finally played in a big league game at PNC Park.

Smith, 33, a backup catcher with the Atlanta Braves, was in the starting lineup for the middle game of a three-game series against the Pirates in Pittsburgh last week.

“It's amazing that it took this long,” Smith said of playing at PNC. “All of those other years, the schedule never worked out for my team to play there.

“Whenever we played the Pirates in a season, it was always at home.”

While Smith had not played baseball in this area since suiting up for the Butler BlueSox in 2010, people have not forgotten him. He said he left more than 100 tickets for family and friends that (July 6) game he started.

“I knew I'd be starting that night, so that's the game I alerted my family about,” he said. “Besides those 100 tickets I left, another 150 people or so came down to support me.

“I'd be up at bat and could hear fans chanting my name. That's a strange thing when you're on the road. I really appreciated everyone being there.”

Smith had a basehit and threw a runner out during the game.

“That felt good,” he said. “When there's so many people who took the time to come watch you play, you want to do something for them.”

After the game, Smith brought his extended family members down on the field to pose for pictures around the home-plate area.

Family members wore jerseys of the major league teams Smith has played with — the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta.

“Really a cool moment,” Smith said. “That night is one of the best memories of my career, to be sure.”

Ironically, Smith thought his career may have been over before ever getting a chance to play a major league game in Pittsburgh.

He dealt with lower back problems that cost him most of spring training with Tampa Bay in March and left his baseball future in jeopardy.

“I recovered from the back issues and felt pretty good, actually, but the Rays didn't seem to have a spot for me,” Smith said. “I figured that might be it. I thought I might be released.”

Smith said he drove all night to Pittsburgh in mid-May to get some quick time with family when the Rays contacted him.

“They told me my contract was sold to the Braves and I had to be in Atlanta by that Monday,” Smith recalled. “So I headed straight there.”

Smith was dealt to Atlanta on May 19.

“Hey, I'm still going. I was talking to (former Seneca Valley teammate) Zach Duggan the other day and he said I can't believe you're still playing. I can't believe it sometimes, either.

“Young players say the biggest goal is to get to the major leagues. The toughest goal is staying in the major leagues once you get there.”

Smith carries a career .265 batting average with 13 home runs in parts of six big league seasons. He has overcome a number of injuries in his career.

The Braves recently signed veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy and called him up from the minor leagues. They sent young catcher William Contreras back to Class AAA, keeping Lucroy and Smith as veteran catchers.

“He (Lucroy) and I were teammates with the Angels,” Smith said. “He's one of my biggest friends in baseball. We talk all the time and now we're teammates again on a contending team.

“You're always looking for another opportunity. Back in April, Lucroy and I were talking about playing for the U.S. Olympic team if we were both released. But here we are, together again.

“Contreras is a big-time talent. He'll be back. It just takes time to adjust to baseball at this level, mentally and physically. The minor leagues help you with that process,” Smith added.

Uncertain of how much longer he'll be playing, Smith admits that he is “grateful for every day.”

He also understands what players give up to play professional baseball.

“Fans don't see that side if it,” Smith said. “You're away from home eight months out of the year. My son is 2 years old. We have a baby girl. I don't see them for months at a time. It's a tough life in that sense.”

Though tempted to stay with his family when the Braves were in Pittsburgh, Smith said the game schedule was not ideal that way.

“I told my wife I'd stay with the team in the hotel and would be home for the All-Star break,.” he said. “Believe me, I've learned to appreciate time with family.”

And he truly appreciated being able to take the field at PNC Park.

“I wondered if that day would ever come,” Smith said. “Now that it did ... I'll never forget it.”