Position: LHP
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 207 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/L
Born: 07/28/1991
College: Sam Houston State University
Drafted: 14th round, 434th Overall, 2013 (Yankees)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: $100,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2023
Options Left: N/A
Overview
Smith is a lefty with below-average fastball velocity who relies on high spin rates. He tends to work up in the strike zone, which gets him a lot of strikeouts, but he’s an extreme flyball pitcher. He throws the fastball a little less than half the time, otherwise relying on a slider and change. The latter is probably his best pitch. Smith has had significant problems with gopher balls in the majors, and also walks too many hitters. He’s depended heavily on low BABIPs — his career BABIP in the majors is .252. Originally a starter, Smith was hampered in the majors by injuries, illness and a suspension. He’s had a moderate platoon split. The Pirates signed Smith to a minor league deal for 2023.
2013-16
Smith moved up to AA quickly. He spent two years in short-season ball and class A, pitching well as a starter. He pitched well in AA in 2015, too, with a 3.38 ERA, although he also had a low K rate. The Yankees sent him back to AA the next year anyway and moved him mostly to relief. That boosted his velocity some. After the season, Milwaukee selected Smith in the Rule 5 draft and immediately traded him to the Cubs.
2017-19
Smith didn’t make the Cubs out of spring training in 2017 and was returned to the Yankees. He spent most of the season starting in AAA and had a big year. New York called him up in July and he made his major league debut. After the season, the Yankees traded Smith to Miami. He made the Marlins’ rotation out of spring training in 2018 and started 16 games, but he missed the second half due to a shoulder strain that required surgery. He returned the next year and made 28 starts, although he missed June with hip inflammation. Smith pitched reasonably well in the majors, with a 1.24 WHIP in 2018 and 1.23 in 2019, but he was hurt by gopher balls. That was especially true in 2019, when he gave up 33, better than one every five innings.
2020-23
MLB (Mia): 0-0-0, 3.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 18.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
MLB (Ari): 0-0-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 4.9 BB/9, 9.8 K/9
In the pandemic season, Smith made one, three-inning start for Miami. Then he missed five weeks, starting in early August, due to COVID-19. During that time, the Marlins traded him to Arizona as part of a deal for Starling Marte. Smith pitched only briefly for the Diamondbacks. The following year, he served in a swing role for Arizona, making 13 starts and 32 relief appearances. He also was suspended for a month, starting in late August, for violating MLB’s policy on foreign substances. He had a good K rate, but walked a lot of hitters and allowed 20 home runs in 113.2 IP.
In 2022, Smith spent most of the season pitching in relief for Arizona. He missed most of August with a fractured right hand. Walks and homers continued to be problems, with Smith allowing 14 of the latter. At the end of the season, he tore a ligament in his left elbow at the end of the season, but he rehabbed it without requiring surgery. Arizona released him anyway.
The Pirates signed Smith to a minor league deal for 2023. They sent him to Indianapolis, where he struggled through ten outings, including nine starts, posting a 6.40 ERA. On June 1, he went on the injured list and didn’t pitch again in 2023.
Stats
Transactions
June 8, 2013: Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 14th round, 434th overall pick; signed on June 11.
December 8, 2016: Selected from the New York Yankees by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Rule 5 draft.
December 8, 2016: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations.
March 28, 2017: Rule 5 pick returned by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees.
July 16, 2017: Contract purchased by the New York Yankees.
November 20, 2017: Traded by the New York Yankees with Garrett Cooper to the Miami Marlins for Michael King and $250,000 in international bonus pool space.
August 31, 2020: Traded by the Miami Marlins with Humberto Mejia and Julio Frias to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Starling Marte.
November 15, 2022: Designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks; became a free agent on November 18.
February 9, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.