Jake Smith (pitcher, born 1990)

Jake Smith
Jake Smith
	Pitcher
	Born: June 2, 1990 (age 34); North Augusta, South Carolina
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	September 7, 2016, for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
	September 29, 2016, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1–0
Earned run average	4.50
Strikeouts	3
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	San Diego Padres (2016);

Jacob Smith (born June 2, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres in 2016.

Early life and education

Smith, from North Augusta, South Carolina, was homeschooled through high school and played high school baseball for a team of home schooled students from the Central Savannah River Area. He then enrolled at Darton State College, where he played college baseball.^[1] While in college, Smith volunteered as a groundskeeper for the Augusta GreenJackets, the Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 through 2011. Eventually he got set up with a bullpen session with Steve Kline, Augusta's pitching coach at the time, who thought Smith had a projectable frame.^[2] He threw for Felipe Alou, a special assistant for the Giants, who attempted to sign Smith. Smith instead opted to transfer to Campbell University to continue his college baseball career.^[3]

Career

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants drafted Smith in the 48th round, with the 1,467th overall selection, of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.^[3]

In 2015, while pitching for the San Jose Giants of the High–A California League, Smith pitched to a 4–4 win-loss record, 16 saves, a 2.35 earned run average, and 118 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. Smith was named the Minor League Baseball Relief Pitcher of the Year.^[4] On November 20, 2015, the Giants added Smith to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.^[5] He was designated for assignment by the Giants on June 30, 2016, to make way for the promoted Grant Green. Smith had pitched to a 2–1 win-loss record and a 7.08 ERA in 20+1⁄3 innings for the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double–A Eastern League.^[6]

San Diego Padres

On July 6, 2016, the San Diego Padres claimed Smith off of waivers and assigned him to the San Antonio Missions of the Double–A Texas League. On September 7, Smith was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[7] He made his major league debut in the 8th inning of a September 7 home game against the Boston Red Sox, and on his first pitch, Hanley Ramírez hit a home run.^[8] In 4 games during his rookie campaign, Smith compiled a 4.50 ERA with 3 strikeouts over 4 innings pitched. On October 26, Smith was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas.^[9]

Smith spent the 2017 split between the rookie–level Arizona League Padres, High–A Lake Elsinore Storm, San Antonio, and El Paso, accumulating a combined 3.04 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 26+2⁄3 innings of work. He was released by the Padres organization on December 13, 2017.

References

^ "Jake Smith finds his way home to play". The North Augusta Star. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
^ Dennis Lin. "Padres call up former groundskeeper Jake Smith". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Feldman, Kate (February 24, 2016). "Giants pitching prospect Jake Smith worked his way up from grounds crew". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
^ "Observing Sports: San Francisco Giants add Campbell alum to 40-man roster". Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
^ "Giants pack 40-man roster, protect eight minor league pitchers from Rule 5 draft". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
^ Letourneau, Connor (June 30, 2016). "Grant Green's debut with Giants a surprise". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
^ "Padres recall Jake Smith from Double-A San Antonio - The San Diego Union-Tribune".
^ "Red Sox beat Padres 7–2 to take over 1st in AL East". Associated Press. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
^ "Padres Outright Jemile Weeks, Jake Smith, Jose Dominguez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

[1] "Jake Smith finds his way home to play". The North Augusta Star. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.

[2] Dennis Lin. "Padres call up former groundskeeper Jake Smith". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2016.

[nydn-3] Feldman, Kate (February 24, 2016). "Giants pitching prospect Jake Smith worked his way up from grounds crew". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 25, 2016.

[4] "Observing Sports: San Francisco Giants add Campbell alum to 40-man roster". Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved November 24, 2015.

[5] "Giants pack 40-man roster, protect eight minor league pitchers from Rule 5 draft". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved November 21, 2015.

[6] Letourneau, Connor (June 30, 2016). "Grant Green's debut with Giants a surprise". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 25, 2016.

[7] "Padres recall Jake Smith from Double-A San Antonio - The San Diego Union-Tribune".

[8] "Red Sox beat Padres 7–2 to take over 1st in AL East". Associated Press. September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.

[9] "Padres Outright Jemile Weeks, Jake Smith, Jose Dominguez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.

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