Will Smith | |
---|---|
Kansas City Royals – No. 31 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Newnan, Georgia, U.S. | July 10, 1989|
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
May 23, 2012, for the Kansas City Royals | |
MLB statistics (through May 22,2024) | |
Win–loss record | 33–43 |
Earned run average | 3.76 |
Strikeouts | 728 |
Saves | 114 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
William Michael Smith (born July 10,1989) is an American professional baseball relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Atlanta Braves,Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.
Smith played college baseball at Gulf Coast Community College,and was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the seventh round of the 2008 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 as a member of Royals. In 2019,serving as the Giants' closer,Smith was an MLB All-Star.
In the 2021 postseason,Smith made 11 appearances,successfully completing each without surrendering any runs. In the 2021 World Series,he closed out Game 6 and Atlanta defeated Houston to clinch the title. Smith had a 2–0 win–loss record with six saves. He was traded to Houston in August 2022 and won his second World Series with them. Signing with Texas as a free agent for the 2023 season,Smith became the first player in the history of the four major North American sports leagues to appear in at least one game of a title run with three different teams in three consecutive seasons.
Smith attended Northgate High School in Newnan,Georgia,where he played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher. [1] He enrolled at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City,Florida.
After his freshman year at Gulf Coast,the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Smith in the seventh round,with the 229th overall selection,of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. [2] Making his professional debut with the Orem Owlz of the Rookie-level Pioneer League,Smith recorded 76 strikeouts while walking only six batters. He pitched for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Class A Midwest League in 2009,and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Class A-Advanced California League in 2010. [3]
On July 23,2010,the Angels traded Smith along with Sean O'Sullivan to the Kansas City Royals for Alberto Callaspo. [4]
Pitching for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Class AA Texas League in 2011,Smith and Kelvin Herrera combined to pitch a no-hitter on July 19,with Smith pitching the first seven innings. [5] Smith began the 2012 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. [6]
The Royals promoted Smith to the majors for the first time on May 22,2012. [6] By the end of the 2012 season,Smith had made 16 starts,his record was 6–9 with a 5.32 ERA. During the 2013 season,the Royals transitioned Smith into a relief pitcher. He spent the majority of the season at Omaha. He was called up multiple times to the Royals bullpen while also making a spot start.
Smith was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Norichika Aoki on December 5,2013. [7] Smith had a 1–3 win–loss record and a 3.70 earned run average (ERA) in 2014. [8] In the May 22 game against the Atlanta Braves,Smith was sent to pitch in relief of Brandon Kintzler in a botched double switch despite Smith not having warmed up in the bullpen. Smith ended up pitching with only eight warmup pitches from the mound and gave up the go-ahead run in the same inning. [9]
On May 21,2015,he was ejected from a game vs the Atlanta Braves for having a foreign substance on his right arm. [10] He was suspended for eight games,pending his appeal and his suspension was subsequently reduced to six games. [11] Smith had a 7–2 win–loss record and a 2.70 ERA in 2015. [12]
During spring training in 2016,Smith tore the lateral collateral ligament in his knee. [13] He returned to the Brewers on June 2. [14] By the end of the month of July,Smith had appeared in 27 games for Milwaukee,serving as the set-up man. He had 1–3 win–loss record and a 3.68 earned run average (ERA) in those 27 appearances.
On August 1,2016,the Brewers traded Smith to the San Francisco Giants for Phil Bickford and Andrew Susac. He made 26 appearances with the Giants,finishing with a 1–1 win–loss record and a 2.95 earned run average (ERA). [15] [16]
On March 20,2017,Smith was diagnosed with possible UCL damage in his left elbow,but no structural damage. He returned to California to seek second opinions with doctors,who petitioned that Smith would require surgery. [17] On March 24,it was reported that Smith elected to have Tommy John surgery on his elbow,ending his 2017 season with the Giants. [18]
In 2018,he returned to action in mid-season and was used as a setup man and the closer. He appeared in 54 games,finishing with a 2–3 win–loss record and a 2.55 earned run average (ERA) to go along with 14 saves (14/18 in save opportunities).
In 2019,Smith was named the Giants' closer. He was selected to the All Star Game in 2019 after he converted 23 of 23 save opportunities in the first half of the season. For the season,he was 6–0 with 34 saves (3rd in the NL) and a 2.76 ERA,and 96 strikeouts in 65.1 innings. [19]
On November 14,2019,Smith signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Braves worth $39 million,with a club option for a fourth year. [20]
On July 4,2020,it was announced that Smith had tested positive for COVID-19. [21] He returned to baseball-related activities on July 26, [22] and was placed on the Braves' active roster on August 6. [23]
In 2020,he was 2–2 with a 4.50 ERA in 18 relief appearances covering 16 innings. [19] On October 16,during Game 5 of the 2020 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Smith became the first MLB pitcher to face a position player of the same name in the postseason,Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith. The faceoff ended with Smith surrendering a three-run home run to the Dodgers' Smith. [24]
In 2021,Smith was 3–7 with 37 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 71 relief appearances covering 68 innings. The Braves clinched a playoff berth,and in an NLCS rematch versus the Dodgers,he was 2–0 with no runs allowed. Smith closed out Game 6 of the World Series versus the Houston Astros,which Atlanta won to clinch the title. He notably did not surrender any runs in the entire postseason over 11 appearances,going 2–0 with six saves. [19]
The Braves traded Smith to the Houston Astros for Jake Odorizzi on August 2,2022. [25] Smith made his Astros debut the following day versus the Boston Red Sox,allowing a solo home run in an otherwise clean ninth inning. [26] The Astros advanced to the World Series and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to give Smith his second World Series title in two seasons,making Smith the tenth player in Major League history to win back-to-back World Series with different teams. [27]
The Astros declined Smith's option for 2023,thereby making him a free agent. [28]
On March 4,2023,Smith signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. [29] Smith led the Rangers with 22 saves during the regular season. The Rangers defeated Smith's former team,the Astros,in the 2023 ALCS to reach the 2023 World Series. This marks Smith's third straight World Series appearance with three different teams,a feat accomplished previously by Don Baylor and Eric Hinske. [30] Smith pitched two-thirds of an inning in both Game 1 and Game 4 of the 2023 World Series. [31] The Rangers went on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series in 5 games,making Smith a 3-time World Series Champion in the span of 3 years with 3 different teams,the first time this has been done in World Series history and the history of North American professional sports as a whole. [32]
Seeking to address bullpen issues,the Royals reunited with Smith and signed him to a one-year $5 million dollar contract on December 11,2023. [33] Smith served as a veteran leader that could lead younger arms in the bullpen and helped recruit other free agents to the Royals. [34] Assigned as the team's closer,Smith struggled to start the season. He gave up 11 runs across 9.1 innings in April. [19]
Smith and his wife,Taylor,married in November 2020 in Atlanta. [35] [36]
Ben Michael Sheets is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Milwaukee Brewers,Oakland Athletics,and Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. Sheets is a four-time MLB All-Star. He won a gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Danny Wayne Darwin,known as "the Bonham Bullet" and "Dr. Death",is an American professional baseball pitcher and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Milwaukee Brewers,Houston Astros,Boston Red Sox,Toronto Blue Jays,Pittsburgh Pirates,Chicago White Sox,and San Francisco Giants,from 1978 through 1998. Over his MLB career,he amassed 171 wins and 182 losses,with a 3.84 earned run average (ERA).
Kameron David Loe is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Milwaukee Brewers,Seattle Mariners,Chicago Cubs,and Atlanta Braves. At 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m),Loe was one of the tallest players in the long history of the game.
Mark William Davis is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Davis played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,San Francisco Giants (1983–1987),San Diego Padres,Kansas City Royals (1990–1992),Atlanta Braves (1992),and Milwaukee Brewers (1997). He won the National League Cy Young Award in 1989,as a relief pitcher for the Padres. Davis batted and threw left-handed. He was the Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the Kansas City Royals organization,but stepped aside after the 2011 season to coach a single short-season affiliate in 2012.
Raymond Keith King is a retired American professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs,Milwaukee Brewers,Atlanta Braves,St. Louis Cardinals,Colorado Rockies,and Washington Nationals from 1999 to 2008.
Octavio Eduardo Dotel Diaz is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. Dotel played for 13 major league teams,the second most teams played for by any player in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB),setting the mark when he pitched for the Detroit Tigers on April 7,2012,breaking a record previously held by Mike Morgan,Matt Stairs,and Ron Villone. Edwin Jackson broke this record in 2019. Dotel's longest tenure with any one team was the five seasons he spent with the Houston Astros.
Scott Cameron Linebrink is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He attended Texas State University before getting drafted,but finished his degree after his retirement at Concordia University (Texas) in Austin.
JoséEnger Veras Romero is a Dominican former professional baseball relief pitcher. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization in 1998. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2006 with the New York Yankees. He also played for the Cleveland Indians,Florida Marlins,Pittsburgh Pirates,Milwaukee Brewers,Detroit Tigers,Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.
The 2007 Milwaukee Brewers season marked the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers winning the American League pennant and the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves winning the World Series. During the offseason,the Brewers re-signed free agents Bill Hall and Chris Capuano. The Brewers were also able to sign starting pitcher Jeff Suppan,second baseman Craig Counsell,and third baseman Tony Graffanino from free agency.
Yovani Gallardo is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft out of Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth,Texas. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Baltimore Orioles,Texas Rangers,Seattle Mariners,and Cincinnati Reds. Gallardo was an All-Star in 2010,and won the Silver Slugger Award for pitchers that year.
Dwight Vern Bernard is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a coach in the San Francisco Giants organization.
The 2012 Major League Baseball season began on April 5 because during the MLB Spring Training it was the first of a two-game series between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. On November 22,2011,a new contract between Major League Baseball and its players union was ratified,and as a result,an expanded playoff format adding two clubs would be adopted no later than 2013 according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The new format of the 2012 postseason to used the 1 game series of the Wild Card round of the format for the 2012 postseason only. The restriction against divisional rivals playing against each other in the Division Series round that had existed in previous years was eliminated,as the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees squared off in one of the best-of-five LDS in the American League. On April 4,2012,it was the last day of the MLB Spring Training and ended with the new Marlins Park,as the newly renamed Miami Marlins hosted the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. The regular season ended on Wednesday,October 3. The entire master schedule was released on September 14,2011.
Jacob Todd Odorizzi is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,Tampa Bay Rays,Minnesota Twins,Houston Astros,and Atlanta Braves. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Odorizzi in the first round,with the 32nd overall choice,of the 2008 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Royals.
The 2013 Major League Baseball season started on March 31 with a Sunday night game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. Opening Day for most clubs was a day later on April 1. The regular season ended on September 30,extended one day for a one-game playoff between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers to decide the second American League Wild Card winner.
Joshua Ronald Hader is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres. Hader is a five-time All-Star and three-time winner of the National League Reliever of the Year Award.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2018 throughout the world.
Joseph Tucker Davidson is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves,Los Angeles Angels,and Kansas City Royals. Davidson played college baseball at Midland College. He was drafted by the Braves in the 19th round of the 2016 MLB draft,and made his MLB debut with them in 2020.
The 2021 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2021 season. The 117th World Series was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Atlanta Braves and the American League (AL) champion Houston Astros. The series began on October 26 and concluded on November 2.
The 2021 National League Division Series were two best-of-five-games series in Major League Baseball (MLB) to determine the participating teams of the 2021 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners,seeded first through third,and a fourth team —determined by the NL Wild Card Game —played in two series. These matchups were: