Chris Smith (pitcher, born 1988)

Last updated

13innings pitched. [1] In the offseason, Smith played for the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League, where he posted a 3–3 record, 2.31 ERA, and 65 strikeouts in 5023 innings. [1] He returned to the Washington Wild Things in 2012, where he logged a 9–6 record and 2.92 ERA in 19 appearances.

New York Yankees

On January 3, 2013, Smith signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization, but did not play that year due to a stress fracture in his forearm. [3] In 2014, he was assigned to their Class-A affiliate, the Charleston RiverDogs. He was later promoted to the Advanced-A Tampa Yankees, and in 32 total relief appearances, posted a 1–2 record, 2.98 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in 5113 innings. [1] Smith began the 2015 season with Tampa, and in May earned a promotion to the Double-A Trenton Thunder. At the end of May he was sent back to Tampa, and on July 26, Smith was released by the Yankees organization. [1]

Toronto Blue Jays

On August 1, 2015, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and played with the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays and Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Smith made 31 total relief appearances in 2015, and pitched to a 4–2 record, 2.05 ERA, and 57 strikeouts in 5223 innings. [1] In the offseason, he played for the Gigantes de Carolina of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente. [1] Smith was assigned to New Hampshire to open the 2016 minor league season, and earned a late-season promotion to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. [4] He recorded a stellar campaign, making 47 appearances and posting a 1–3 record, 1.93 ERA, 76 strikeouts, and 15 saves in 6023 innings. [1]

Smith was called up by the Blue Jays for the first time on September 27, 2016; [5] however, he didn't make an appearance for the team. After Jason Grilli was designated for assignment on June 27, 2017, Smith was recalled by the Blue Jays. [6] On August 12, Smith was designated for assignment. [7] On November 7, 2017, Smith elected free agency. [8]

Washington Nationals

On December 21, 2017, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. [9] He was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he posted a 4–5 record and 3.93 ERA in 49 appearances. Smith elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018. [10]

Detroit Tigers

On December 13, 2018, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization. [11] Early in spring training, Smith suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which required Tommy John surgery. [12] Smith was released by the Tigers on March 5, 2019, after the season ending injury. [13] Smith re-signed with the Tigers on a minor league deal on February 7, 2020. Smith did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [14] He was released by the Tigers organization on July 3, 2020.

On June 27, 2021, Smith announced his retirement from professional baseball via Twitter. [15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Chris Smith Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers - Chris Smith". kwcpanthers.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  3. Seiner, Jake (May 16, 2014). "Affiliated: One journey to making the Minors". Minor League Baseball . Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  4. Moritz, Amy (August 28, 2016). "Chris Smith takes a non-traditional route to his Triple-A baseball debut". insidepitch.buffalonews.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  5. Nicholson-Smith, Ben (September 27, 2016). "Blue Jays expected to promote right-handed reliever Chris Smith". Sportsnet . Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  6. "Blue Jays' Jason Grilli designated for assignment". Sportsnet . June 27, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  7. "Blue Jays place Russell Martin on 10-day DL with oblique strain". Sportsnet . August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  8. Eddy, Matt (November 7, 2017). "Minor League Free Agents 2017". Baseball America . Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  9. Todd, Jeff (December 21, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/21/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  10. "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  11. Byrne, Connor (December 13, 2018). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/13/18". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  12. "Tigers' Chris Smith: Ruptures UCL in live BP session". cbssports.com. February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  13. "Chris Smith: Released by Tigers". CBSSports.com. March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  14. "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". June 30, 2020.
  15. "Minor MLB Transactions: 6/28/21". June 28, 2021.
Chris Smith
Pitcher
Born: (1988-08-19) August 19, 1988 (age 36)
Louisville, Kentucky
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 27, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
July 28, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays