Riley Smith (baseball)
Riley Smith | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Lufkin, Texas, U.S. | January 15, 1995|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 26, 2020, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 25, 2021, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 3–4 |
Earned run average | 5.04 |
Strikeouts | 54 |
Teams | |
Riley Wade Smith (born January 15, 1995) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Amateur career
[edit]Smith attended Hudson High School in Lufkin, Texas.[1] Undrafted out of high school in 2013, Smith attended San Jacinto College for two years. He went 6–2 with a 2.30 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 70 innings in 2014.[2] He posted a 7–2 record with a 2.96 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 75 innings in 2015.[2] Smith helped lead the San Jacinto Gators to the NJCAA World Series in 2015.[3] Smith was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 31st round of the 2015 MLB draft, but did not sign and transferred to Louisiana State University for the 2016 season.[4] Smith went 2–1 with a 7.22 ERA over 32 innings in 2016.[5] Smith was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 24th round, with the 719th overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft and signed with them.[6]
Professional career
[edit]Arizona Diamondbacks
[edit]Smith spent his professional debut season of 2016 with the Hillsboro Hops, going 2–0 with a 2.51 ERA over 32 innings.[2] He split the 2017 season between Hillsboro and the Kane County Cougars, going a combined 7–4 with a 3.07 ERA over 105+2⁄3 innings.[7] He spent 2018 with the Visalia Rawhide, going 8–6 with a 3.57 ERA over 151 innings.[2] He split the 2019 season between the Jackson Generals and the Reno Aces, going a combined 6–6 with a 4.43 ERA over 133+1⁄3 innings.[8][9] On November 20, 2019, the Diamondbacks added Smith to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[10]
Smith was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on August 24, 2020. He made his debut on August 26 against the Colorado Rockies. In 6 games, Smith was 1–0 with a 1.47 ERA in 18+1⁄3 innings. Smith made 24 appearances for Arizona in 2021, but struggled to a 6.01 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 67+1⁄3 innings of work. He was outrighted off of the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.[11] On April 12, 2022, Smith was released by the Diamondbacks organization.[12]
Colorado Rockies
[edit]On May 2, 2022, Smith signed with the Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. On May 9, the Colorado Rockies signed Smith to a minor league deal.[13] He made 19 appearances (17 starts) for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, struggling to a 4–7 record and 8.06 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[14]
Cleburne Railroaders
[edit]On February 17, 2023, Smith signed with the Bravos de León of the Mexican League.[15] However, prior to the start of the Mexican League season on April 5, Smith signed with the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[16] Smith made 8 starts for Cleburne, logging a 3–4 record and 5.73 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 44.0 innings pitched. On June 20, he was released by the Railroaders.[17]
Cleveland Guardians
[edit]On June 23, 2023, Smith signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians organization.[18] In 2 games for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers, he pitched 5.0 innings, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) on 12 hits and 12 walks with 2 strikeouts. On July 3, Smith retired from professional baseball.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ Brandon Ogden (August 2, 2015). "Former Hudson standout Smith drafted by Pirates, set to play for LSU". The Lufkin Daily News. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Riley Smith player page". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ Rob Vanya (May 12, 2015). "Baseball Punches Ticket To World Series". San Jacinto College. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ Randy Rosetta (July 18, 2015). "New LSU pitcher Riley Smith is focused on competing as soon as he gets the chance". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ WWL Staff (May 18, 2016). "Little-used, but rising Riley Smith enters LSU rotation for No. 1 Florida". WWL-TV. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ "Former Hudson Hornet Riley Smith signs with the Arizona Diamondbacks". KTRE. June 14, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ Christian Rollin Walker (September 12, 2017). "Riley Smith finding his groove in return to Cougars' rotation". Kane County Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ Zach Buchanan (October 24, 2019). "Whom to protect or cut loose? Looking at the 40-man decisions facing the Diamondbacks". The Athletic. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ Hunter Hippel (June 5, 2019). "Diamondbacks name Thomas, Smith top minor leaguers of May". Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
- ^ "D-backs add Wyatt Mathisen, Riley Smith, Taylor Widener and Andy Young to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ "Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Cast off 40-man roster". November 20, 2021.
- ^ "Riley Smith Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
- ^ "Rockies, Riley Smith Agree to Minor League Deal". May 9, 2022.
- ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. November 13, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 17 de febrero de 2023".
- ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - 2023 Transactions".
- ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - 2023 Transactions".
- ^ "Transactions". MLB.com.
- ^ "Transactions".
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- LSU Tigers bio
- 1995 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Lufkin, Texas
- Baseball players from Angelina County, Texas
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Arizona Diamondbacks players
- LSU Tigers baseball players
- San Jacinto Central Ravens baseball players
- Hillsboro Hops players
- Kane County Cougars players
- Visalia Rawhide players
- Jackson Generals (Southern League) players
- Reno Aces players
- Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks players
- Cleburne Railroaders players
- Columbus Clippers players