| Kevin Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2018 | |
| Third baseman /Shortstop | |
| Born: (1996-07-04)July 4, 1996 (age 29) East Greenbush, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 18, 2021, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 26, 2024, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .173 |
| Home runs | 8 |
| Runs batted in | 25 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Kevin Smith (born July 4, 1996) is an American former professionalbaseballthird baseman andshortstop. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theToronto Blue Jays,Oakland Athletics, andNew York Yankees.
Smith graduated fromColumbia High School inEast Greenbush, New York, and later attended theUniversity of Maryland, College Park.[1] He played three seasons as the starting shortstop for theMaryland Terrapins. In hisfreshman season, Smith appeared in 66 games and recorded a .273batting average, sevenhome runs, 35runs batted in (RBI), and a team-leading 11stolen bases.[2] As asophomore, Smith hit .259 with eight home runs and 34 RBI.[2] In 2016, he playedcollegiate summer baseball for theYarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of theCape Cod Baseball League, where he hit .301 with 12doubles and two home runs, was a league all-star and named a top prospect in the league byBaseball America,Perfect Game, and D1Baseball.com,[3] and was named theMost Valuable Player (MVP) of the league's championship series after batting .500 with a home run and three RBI to help Yarmouth–Dennis win the league championship for the third-consecutive season.[2][4][5] In his final year with the Terrapins, Smith hit .268 in 54 games played, and added 13 home runs and 48 RBI.[6]
TheToronto Blue Jays drafted Smith in the fourth round, with the 129th overall selection, of the2017 Major League Baseball draft.[7] He signed for a $405,100signing bonus, and was assigned to theBluefield Blue Jays.[8] In 61 games for Bluefield, Smith hit .271 with eight home runs, 43 RBI, and nine stolen bases.[9] In 2018, he played for both theSingle–ALansing Lugnuts and theHigh–ADunedin Blue Jays, slashing a combined .302/.358/.528 with 25 home runs, 93 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 129 games.[10]
Smith played the 2019 season entirely with theDouble-ANew Hampshire Fisher Cats, hitting .209 with 19 home runs, 61 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Following the season he played in 18 games for theScottsdale Scorpions of theArizona Fall League.[9] He did not play in a game in 2020, due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[11] In 2021, Smith was assigned to theTriple-ABuffalo Bisons, where he hit .286 with a team-leading 19 home runs and 63 RBI prior to being called up.[12] He earned the 2021Stan Barron Most Valuable Player Award, an award for Bisons team MVP, as voted on by his teammates.[13]
On August 18, 2021, the Blue Jays selected Smith's contract and called him up to the major leagues.[12] On August 29, Smith hit his first career home run off ofDetroit Tigers starterMatthew Boyd.[14]
On March 16, 2022, the Blue Jays traded Smith,Gunnar Hoglund,Zach Logue, andKirby Snead to theOakland Athletics forMatt Chapman.[15] Smith spent the bulk of the year with the Triple-ALas Vegas Aviators, also appearing in 47 games for Oakland. In 139 at-bats, he hit .180/.216/.302 with two home runs, 13 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.
Smith was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2023 season.[16]
On January 8, 2024, Smith signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees.[17] He began the season with the Triple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[18] On April 13, Smith was selected to the major league roster.[19] He made only one appearance for the team and did not record an at–bat before he was designated for assignment on April 18.[20] Smith cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Scranton on April 20.[21] On May 25, the Yankees selected Smith's contract.[22] He made one appearance as a pinch runner before he was removed from the roster and outrighted to Triple–A on May 28.[23] Smith initially rejected the assignment and elected free agency, but on the following day, accepted the assignment and was assigned to Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.[24] He elected free agency on October 31.[25]
On March 24, 2025, Smith announced his retirement from professional baseball.[26]