Chris Smith (pitcher)

Chris Smith

Smith with the Milwaukee Brewers
Oakland Athletics
Pitcher
Born: (1981-04-09) April 9, 1981
Apple Valley, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 21, 2008, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2010 season)
Win–loss record 1–0
Earned run average 5.19
Strikeouts 52
Teams

Christopher Michael Smith (born April 9, 1981 in Apple Valley, California) is a professional baseball pitcher in the Oakland Athletics organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers. He is a 1999 graduate of Hesperia High School in Hesperia, California, and attended the University of California, Riverside.[1]

College

While attending the University of California, Riverside, Smith posted a 9–8 record and a 2.91 ERA. He also broke a school record with 127 strikeouts and had a team-high eight complete games. He earned Big West Pitcher of the Week honors after a 15-strikeout performance at University of California, Irvine, and was named second team All-Big West.[2]

Professional career

Smith was selected by Boston Red Sox in 4th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft and began his professional career playing for the Lowell Spinners of the New York–Penn League.[3] However, Smith missed most of the 2002 season after being injured in an ATV accident.[4]

By 2006, Smith had worked his way up to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox and split the 2006 and 2007 seasons between Pawtucket and the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He began the 2008 season with Pawtucket. On May 18, 2008, the Red Sox called up Smith from Pawtucket to help out their bullpen. On June 21, Smith made his debut against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park in the second inning with the bases loaded in relief of Daisuke Matsuzaka. Smith recorded his first major league out by striking out Rick Ankiel on three straight changeups. He then gave up a grand slam to Troy Glaus for his first earned run. During his debut, he ended up going four innings, allowing just the one run, three hits, striking out three and not walking anyone.

Smith earned his first major league win on June 24, 2008, pitching two scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks in relief of starter Justin Masterson.[5] He was designated for assignment on October 17, and elected to become a free agent after clearing waivers.[6] He later signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers with an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to start the 2009 season; he was called up to Milwaukee on June 4[7] and optioned to Nashville on August 10.[8] Smith was recalled on September 1[9] and finished the season with Milwaukee.

On January 27, 2010, Smith was designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers to make room on the roster for Joe Inglett. He played the majority of the 2010 season with Nashville, but also played three games for Milwaukee. Smith led the Pacific Coast League with 26 saves.[10] He elected to become a free agent at the end of the season.

He signed with the Seattle Mariners on a minor league contract & ended up playing for the Tacoma Rainiers during 2011 season before getting released during 2011 season... Played with Washington (Frontier) independent league for 2012 season & has signed a minor league contract with New York Yankees for 2013 season..

Smith signed with the Wichita Wingnuts of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball on March 5, 2013. In 2014, he signed with San Diego Padres and was sent to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. For the 2016 season, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville.

References

  1. ↑ "Chris Smith". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  2. ↑ "UC Riverside Baseball: 2001-02 Archive". University of California, Riverside. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  3. ↑ "Chris Smith". Baseball Cube. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  4. ↑ "#31 Chris Smith". SoxProspects. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  5. ↑ Stephen Harris (2008-06-25). "First victory a big relief for Chris Smith". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  6. ↑ Nick Cafardo (2008-10-23). "Boras states his case for keeping Varitek". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  7. ↑ "Major League Baseball Transactions". Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  8. ↑ "Major League Baseball Transactions". Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  9. ↑ "Major League Baseball Transactions". Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  10. ↑ "2010 Nashville Sounds Season In Review". 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2009-10-07.

External links

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