Caleb Anthony Smith (born July 28, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Caleb Smith | |
---|---|
Free agent | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Huntsville, Texas, U.S. | July 28, 1991|
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
July 17, 2017, for the New York Yankees | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Win–loss record | 20–30 |
Earned run average | 4.55 |
Strikeouts | 478 |
Teams | |
Following Smith's graduation from Huntsville High School in Huntsville, Texas, he enrolled at Sam Houston State University where he played college baseball.[1] In 2013, his junior year, he had a 7–5 win–loss record with a 3.44 earned run average (ERA) over 18 games (16 starts).[2]
Smith was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 14th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft out of Sam Houston State University.[3][4] He made his professional debut for the Staten Island Yankees and also started one game for the Trenton Thunder. He finished 1–2 with a 1.93 earned run average (ERA) and 57 strikeouts over 51+1⁄3 innings in 14 games (10 starts). He started 2014 with the Charleston RiverDogs. He was named the South Atlantic League player of the week on April 28 after setting a RiverDogs strikeout record with 13.[5][6] He finished the season with the Tampa Yankees. In 27 starts between Charleston and Tampa, he pitched to a 10–9 record and 3.67 ERA. Smith spent 2015 with the Trenton Thunder where he was 10–7 with a 3.38 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) along with pitching one game for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at the end of the season. In 2016, he returned to Trenton where he compiled a 3–5 record and 3.96 ERA in 63.2 innings pitched.[7]
On December 8, 2016, Smith was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2016 Rule 5 draft and then traded to the Chicago Cubs.[8][9]
The Cubs returned Smith to the Yankees on March 28, 2017.[10] The Yankees promoted Smith to the major leagues on July 16.[11]
On November 20, 2017, Smith was traded to the Miami Marlins along with Garrett Cooper in exchange for pitcher Mike King and international bonus pool money.[12] Smith earned a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day starting rotation and was pitching effectively until he severely strained and tore his lat muscle from the bone during a game against the Rockies on June 26. He opted to have season-ending surgery which ended his 2018 campaign.[13] He posted a 5–6 record as a rookie with a 4.19 ERA and 88 strikeouts in 77.1 innings pitched.
Smith earned a spot in the 2019 Opening Day rotation and had a stretch of six consecutive quality starts from April 7 through May 7. However, the Marlins placed him on the injured list with left hip inflammation after his outing on June 6.[14] He was activated on July 6.
Overall in 2019, Smith was 10–11 with a 4.52 ERA. He established new career highs with 168 strikeouts and 28 starts. He also allowed 33 home runs, the second-highest total in a single season in Marlins history.[15]
On August 31, 2020, Smith was traded from the Marlins alongside pitcher Humberto Mejía and Julio Frias to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a package deal for outfielder Starling Marte.[16] Smith pitched in 4 games (3 starts), totaling 11 innings of work with 12 strikeouts.
On August 18, 2021, Smith was suspended for ten games by Major League Baseball for having a foreign substance in his glove.[17] In 45 appearances (13 starts) for Arizona, Smith logged a 4–9 record and 4.83 ERA with 124 strikeouts in 113.2 innings pitched.
Smith pitched in 44 contests for the Diamondbacks in 2022, posting a 1–3 record and 4.11 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 70.0 innings of work. In the final day of the season, Smith left a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with what was later diagnosed as a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his throwing arm.[18] He was designated for assignment on November 15, 2022. On November 18, Smith was non–tendered by Arizona and became a free agent.[19]
On February 9, 2023, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.[20] He underwent Tommy John surgery in June.[21] He elected free agency on November 6. [22]
Smith has a three-pitch mix, including a four-seam fastball, slider and changeup.[23]