Position: RHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 225 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 04/12/1990
College: University of Oklahoma
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Drafted: 14th round, 443rd Overall, 2011 (Padres)
Bonus: $250,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: N/A
Overview
Smith has done a great deal of traveling over a 14-year career. He’s pitched for seven major league teams, as well as in Japan and (in one game) Korea. And he missed two years due to Tommy John surgery. Mainly a starter when he was coming up through the minors, he moved mostly to relief in the majors. He hasn’t had much success in the majors, with a career ERA of 5.79 in 152 games. He throws a 94-95 mph fastball, as well as a cutter, slider and curve. He’s usually had good control, but doesn’t miss a lot of bats. The Pirates signed Smith to a minor league deal for 2025.
2011-17
After being drafted by the Padres, Smith moved steadily through their system, reaching the majors in 2013. He made a very brief rookie ball debut in 2011, then spent 2012 in the high-offense California League, posting a 3.85 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and very good walk and K rates. After posting a 1.15 ERA through six starts in AA in 2013, Smith got a callup from the Padres. He spent the rest of the season alternating between AAA and the majors, posting a 3.39 ERA in AAA and 6.44 in the majors.
In 2014, Smith made two starts in AAA, then went on the disabled list for the rest of the season. San Diego traded him to Tampa Bay in December, but Smith never pitched for the Rays. He had Tommy John surgery in April 2015, and missed all of that season and the next. In 2017, Smith pitched for the Rays in the minors in recovering from the surgery. After that season, the Rays removed Smith from their 40-man roster. The Mets claimed him in the Rule 5 draft and immediately traded him to Kansas City.
2018-21
Smith spent all of 2018 with the Royals, mostly pitching in relief. He wasn’t very effective, putting up a 6.92 ERA and unimpressive other numbers, including gopher ball problems. The Royals non-tendered him, and he became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with Milwaukee. The Brewers called him up in early May and he shuttled back and forth between AAA and the majors through mid-August. He got into seven games with the Brewers and had a 7.92 ERA. The Giants claimed Smith off waivers from Milwaukee in mid-August and he had a 2.08 ERA in ten games with them, although his other numbers weren’t good.
Early in 2020, the Giants sent Smith to Oakland for cash. He got into six games with the A’s in the truncated season and was very effective. In 2021, Smith spent most of the season with the A’s, but had a 5.40 ERA in 31 games. Oakland outrighted him to AAA in mid-September and he became a free agent a month later.
2022-24
Smith pitched in Japan in 2022 and was mostly effective, posting a 3.76 ERA. The next season, he signed to pitch in Korea, but got into only one game and missed the rest of the season with a shoulder strain.
Early in 2024, Smith signed a minor league deal with the Rays, but they traded him to Miami for cash. He pitched in 25 games through mid-June with a 4.25 ERA, although he got hit hard and didn’t miss many bats. Miami released Smith and he signed a minor league deal with Baltimore. The Orioles called him up a couple weeks later and he had a 5.74 ERA in 25 games.
Stats
Transactions
June 11, 2009: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 49th round, 1475th overall pick.
June 9, 2010: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round, 600th overall pick.
June 8, 2011: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 14th round, 443rd overall pick; signed on August 15.
May 11, 2013: Contract purchased by the San Diego Padres.
December 19, 2014: Traded by the San Diego Padres with Rene Rivera and Jake Bauers to the Tampa Bay Rays for Wil Myers, Ryan Hanigan, Jose Castillo and Gerardo Reyes.
December 14, 2017: Claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays by the New York Mets.
December 14, 2017: Traded by the New York Mets to the Kansas City Royals for future considerations.
November 30, 2018: Became a free agent.
January 11, 2019: Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as a minor league free agent.
May 5, 2019: Called up by the Milwaukee Brewers.
August 12, 2019: Claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers by the San Francisco Giants.
February 5, 2020: Traded by the San Francisco Giants to the Oakland Athletics for cash.
September 16, 2021: Outrighted to AAA by the Oakland Athletics.
October 12, 2021: Became a free agent.
January 2, 2024: Signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as a minor league free agent.
March 27, 2024: Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Miami Marlins for cash.
June 20, 2024: Released by the Miami Marlins.
June 27, 2024: Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as a minor league free agent.
July 11, 2024: Called up by the Baltimore Orioles.
October 31, 2024: Became a free agent.
January 6, 2025: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.