Chris Smith (pitcher, born 1988)

Christopher Patrick Smith (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Not to be confused with Chris Smith (pitcher, born 1981).
Chris Smith
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1988-08-19) August 19, 1988
Louisville, Kentucky
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 27, 2017, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2017 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average5.40
Strikeouts1
WHIP1.60
Teams

High school and college

Smith attended Butler Traditional High School in Louisville, Kentucky and played college baseball at Kentucky Wesleyan College, where he was a second baseman and pitcher. He holds the record for games started with the Panthers at 187, as well as saves with eight. Smith majored in fitness and sports management.[1][2]

Professional career

Independent and minor leagues

Unchosen in the Major League draft, Smith was selected in the first round of the independent Frontier League's draft by the Lake Erie Crushers.[2] In 2011, Smith played for the Traverse City Beach Bums and Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League, as well as the White Sands Pupfish of the Pecos League. In 13 combined appearances, Smith pitched to a 4–2 win–loss record, 3.64 earned run average (ERA), and 54 strikeouts in 59​1⁄3 innings 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 50​2⁄3 innings.[1]

In 2013, Smith signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees, 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 51​1⁄3 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 in late July Smith was released by the Yankees organization.[1]

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 52​2⁄3 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 60​2⁄3 innings.[1]

Toronto Blue Jays

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 elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Detroit Tigers

On December 13, 2018, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.[10] Early in spring training, Smith suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.[11] Smith was released by the Tigers on March 5, 2019, after the season ending injury.[12] Smith re-signed with the Tigers on a minor league deal on February 7, 2020. He was released on July 3, 2020.

References
  1. "Chris Smith Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  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". MiLB.com. 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. Byrne, Connor (December 13, 2018). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/13/18". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  11. "Tigers' Chris Smith: Ruptures UCL in live BP session". cbssports.com. February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  12. "Chris Smith: Released by Tigers". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
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