Finn Del Bonta-Smith

WTM
Dec 06, 2023
Share

  • Position: RHP

  • Height: 6’0”

  • Weight: 190 lbs

  • Bats/Throws: R/R

  • Born: 02/02/1997

  • College: San Jose State University

  • Drafted: 22nd round, 669th Overall, 2019 (Rockies)

  • How Acquired: Rule 5 Draft, Minor League Phase (from Rockies)

  • Bonus: $3,000

  • 40-man Roster: No

  • Rule 5 Eligible: Yes

  • Minor League Free Agency: 2025

  • Options Left: 3

Related Articles

Overview

Del Bonta-Smith was a late round draftee out of San Jose State, where he was strictly a reliever. He was already 22 in his draft year, 2019; between that and the canceled 2020 season, he’s always been old for his levels. He performed well until he reached AA, but since then he’s had significant gopher ball problems. His pitches track well, better than his upper-level results have shown. His fastball has a lot of movement and his change has very good arm-side run. He also throws a slider. The Pirates selected Del Bonta-Smith in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.

2019-21

In his draft year, Del Bonta-Smith pitched in the short-season Northwest League and put up a 2.97 ERA with good walk and K rates. After the pandemic season, he opened in Low Class A but moved up to High A after ten games. Between the two levels, he had a 3.35 ERA, with a 1.04 WHIP and 11.1 K/9.

2022-24

Except for the first five games of 2022, Del Bonta-Smith spent 2022 and 2023 in AA. He was much more effective the first year than the second, with a 1.08 WHIP in 2022 but 1.56 in 2023. Both years the gopher ball was a big problem; he allowed 11 in 50 innings in 2022 and 11 in 45 in 2023. In 2022, he had a reverse platoon split. In 2023, left-handed hitters pummeled him for a .701 slugging average.

Between two stays on the injured list and rehab assignments, Del Bonta-Smith appeared in only four games for Indianapolis before late June. He eventually got into 21 games total for them, all in relief. He wasn’t very effective, posting a 4.64 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. Gopher balls were a problem, as he allowed better than one every five innings. His walk and K rates also weren’t good.

Stats

Fangraphs

Baseball-Reference

Transactions

June 5, 2019: Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 22nd round, 669th overall pick; signed June 17.
December 6, 2023: Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Colorado Rockies in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.