American baseball player (born 1989)
Baseball player
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.
Amateur career
[
edit
]
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
.
Professional career
[
edit
]
Draft and minor leagues
[
edit
]
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]
Kansas City Royals (2012?2013)
[
edit
]
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.
Milwaukee Brewers (2014?2016)
[
edit
]
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.
San Francisco Giants (2016, 2018?2019)
[
edit
]
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]
Atlanta Braves (2020?2022)
[
edit
]
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]
Houston Astros (2022)
[
edit
]
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]
Texas Rangers (2023)
[
edit
]
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]
Kansas City Royals (second stint)
[
edit
]
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]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Smith and his wife, Taylor, married in November 2020 in
Atlanta
.
[35]
[36]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Former Northgate pitcher Smith 2-1 in rookie league - The Newnan Times-Herald"
. Times-herald.com
. Retrieved
December 5,
2013
.
- ^
Milner, Brad (June 6, 2008).
"Angels snag Smith: Gulf Coast freshman ready to begin professional baseball career"
. Archived from
the original
on February 28, 2009.
- ^
"Did the Angels give up too much in Will Smith?"
.
The Orange County Register
. July 23, 2010
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
"Angels get Callaspo for two pitchers"
.
ESPN.com
. July 23, 2010
. Retrieved
December 5,
2013
.
- ^
"Second straight no-hitter in Kansas City Royals' farm system - ESPN"
. Espn.go.com. July 20, 2011
. Retrieved
December 5,
2013
.
- ^
a
b
"Royals select contract of left-handed pitcher Will Smith from Omaha"
.
MLB.com
(Press release). May 22, 2012
. Retrieved
December 5,
2013
.
- ^
Dutton, Bob.
"Royals get outfielder Aoki from Brewers for Will Smith"
.
Kansas City Star
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
Haudricourt, Tom.
"Will Smith fond of relief role with Brewers"
.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
Braves score 3 in 7th, rally to beat Brewers 5-4
Sports Illustrated
- ^
"Brewers' Will Smith ejected for foreign substance on arm"
.
USA TODAY
. May 21, 2015
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
"Smith's suspension reduced to 6 games"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
March 29,
2023
.
- ^
Haudricourt, Tom.
"Will Smith, expected to be Brewers co-closer, has sore knee examined"
.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
"Brewers reliever Will Smith has torn knee ligament"
. Retrieved
March 27,
2016
.
- ^
"Reliever Will Smith on top of game since return from knee injury"
.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
. Retrieved
August 1,
2016
.
- ^
"Giants pay steep price, acquire reliever Will Smith from Brewers"
.
San Jose Mercury News
. Retrieved
August 1,
2016
.
- ^
Haft, Chris.
"Giants add left-hander Smith in deal with Brewers"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
August 1,
2016
.
- ^
Perkins, Owen.
"Tommy John surgery recommended for Smith"
. MLB
. Retrieved
March 24,
2017
.
- ^
Townsend, Mark.
"Spring Training 2017: Giants lose key reliever Will Smith to Tommy John surgery"
. Yahoo
. Retrieved
March 24,
2017
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Will Smith stats"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
September 11,
2022
.
- ^
Bowman, Mark (November 14, 2019).
"Braves sign All-Star LHP Smith to 3-year pact"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
"Freeman among four Braves to test positive"
.
ESPN.com
. July 4, 2020
. Retrieved
July 4,
2020
.
- ^
Bowman, Mark (July 26, 2020).
"Will Smith cleared to end COVID quarantine"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
July 29,
2020
.
- ^
"Will Smith activated as Braves get to 28"
.
MLB.com
. August 6, 2020
. Retrieved
August 6,
2020
.
- ^
DiComo, Anthony (October 17, 2020).
"I am legend: Will Smith homers off Will Smith"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
December 14,
2020
.
- ^
Bowman, Mark (August 2, 2022).
"Busy Braves acquire Grossman, also land Odorizzi"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
August 2,
2022
.
- ^
"Trey Mancini homers in first start with Astros since trade"
.
ESPN.com
. Associated Press. August 3, 2022
. Retrieved
August 3,
2022
.
- ^
Rome, Chandler (November 5, 2022).
"Undisputed: 'It proves we're the best team in baseball ... They have nothing to say now.'
"
.
Houston Chronicle
. Retrieved
November 6,
2022
.
- ^
Rome, Chandler (November 9, 2022).
"Trey Mancini and Will Smith, a pair of trade deadline acquisitions for Astros, become free agents"
.
Houston Chronicle
. Retrieved
November 10,
2022
.
- ^
"RANGERS SIGN FREE AGENT LHP WILL SMITH TO ONE-YEAR MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT"
.
MLB.com
. March 4, 2023
. Retrieved
March 4,
2023
.
- ^
Farkas, Brady (October 27, 2023).
"Texas Rangers' Reliever Looking to Accomplish Something that No Player Ever Has During this World Series"
.
Fastball
.
- ^
"Will Smith a one-player dynasty with individual three-peat"
.
MLB.com
.
- ^
"Rangers reliever Will Smith makes history with third World Series win with third different team in three years"
.
www.cbssports.com
.
- ^
Passan, Jeff (December 10, 2023).
"Royals, Will Smith reach 1-year, $5 million deal"
.
ESPN.com
. Retrieved
December 12,
2023
.
- ^
Rogers, Anne (February 16, 2024).
"Three titles later, Smith returns to KC -- and he brought friends, too"
.
MLB.com
.
Archived
from the original on February 17, 2024.
- ^
"Taylor & Will: Love Strikes Again"
.
- ^
Burns, Gabriel.
"Will Smith's Braves homecoming arrived at the perfect time"
.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
.
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
Active roster
| |
---|
Inactive roster
| |
---|
Injured list
| |
---|
Restricted list
| |
---|
Coaching staff
| |
---|