| Will Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith with theKansas City Royals in 2012 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-07-10)July 10, 1989 (age 36) Newnan, Georgia, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 23, 2012, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 33–45 |
| Earned run average | 3.85 |
| Strikeouts | 748 |
| Saves | 114 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
William Michael Smith (born July 10, 1989) is an American professionalbaseballrelief pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theKansas City Royals,Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Atlanta Braves,Houston Astros, andTexas Rangers.
Smith playedcollege baseball atGulf Coast Community College, and was selected by theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the seventh round of the2008 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 as a member of Royals. In 2019, serving as the Giants'closer, Smith was anMLB All-Star.
In the 2021postseason, Smith made 11 appearances, successfully completing each without surrendering anyruns. In the2021 World Series, he closed out Game 6 and Atlanta defeated Houston to clinch the title. Smith had a 2–0win–loss record with sixsaves. He was traded to Houston in August 2022 and won his second World Series with them. Signing with Texas as a free agent for the 2023 season, Smith became the first player in the history of thefour major North American sports leagues to appear in at least one game of a championship winning title run with three different teams in three consecutive seasons.
Smith attendedNorthgate High School inNewnan, Georgia, where he played for the school's baseball team as apitcher.[1] He enrolled atGulf Coast Community College inPanama City, Florida.
After his freshman year at Gulf Coast, theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Smith in the seventh round, with the 229th overall selection, of the2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] Making his professional debut with theOrem Owlz of theRookie-levelPioneer League, Smith recorded 76strikeouts whilewalking only six batters. He pitched for theCedar Rapids Kernels of theClass AMidwest League in 2009, and theRancho Cucamonga Quakes of theClass A-AdvancedCalifornia League in 2010.[3]
On July 23, 2010, the Angels traded Smith along withSean O'Sullivan to theKansas City Royals forAlberto Callaspo.[4]
Pitching for theNorthwest Arkansas Naturals of theClass AATexas League in 2011, Smith andKelvin Herrera combined to pitch ano-hitter on July 19, with Smith pitching the first seven innings.[5] Smith began the 2012 season with theOmaha Storm Chasers of theClass AAAPacific Coast League.[6]
The Royals promoted Smith to the majors for the first time on May 22, 2012.[6] By the end of the 2012 season, Smith had made 16 starts, his record was 6–9 with a 5.32 ERA. During the 2013 season, the Royals transitioned Smith into arelief pitcher. He spent the majority of the season at Omaha. He was called up multiple times to the Royals bullpen while also making a spot start.
Smith was traded to theMilwaukee Brewers in exchange forNorichika Aoki on December 5, 2013.[7] Smith had a 1–3win–loss record and a 3.70earned run average (ERA) in 2014.[8] In the May 22 game against theAtlanta Braves, Smith was sent to pitch in relief ofBrandon Kintzler in a botcheddouble switch despite Smith not having warmed up in thebullpen. Smith ended up pitching with only eight warmup pitches from the mound and gave up the go-ahead run in the same inning.[9]
On May 21, 2015, he was ejected from a game vs the Atlanta Braves for having a foreign substance on his right arm.[10] He was suspended for eight games, pending his appeal and his suspension was subsequently reduced to six games.[11] Smith had a 7–2 win–loss record and a 2.70 ERA in 2015.[12]
During spring training in 2016, Smith tore thelateral collateral ligament in his knee.[13] He returned to the Brewers on June 2.[14] By the end of the month of July, Smith had appeared in 27 games for Milwaukee, serving as the set-up man. He had 1–3win–loss record and a 3.68earned run average (ERA) in those 27 appearances.
On August 1, 2016, the Brewers traded Smith to theSan Francisco Giants forPhil Bickford andAndrew Susac. He made 26 appearances with the Giants, finishing with a 1–1win–loss record and a 2.95earned run average (ERA).[15][16]
On March 20, 2017, Smith was diagnosed with possible UCL damage in his left elbow, but no structural damage. He returned to California to seek second opinions with doctors, who petitioned that Smith would require surgery.[17] On March 24, it was reported that Smith elected to haveTommy John surgery on his elbow, ending his 2017 season with the Giants.[18]
In 2018, he returned to action in mid-season and was used as asetup man and thecloser. He appeared in 54 games, finishing with a 2–3win–loss record and a 2.55earned run average (ERA) to go along with 14 saves (14/18 in save opportunities).
In 2019, Smith was named the Giants'closer. He was selected to the All Star Game in 2019 after he converted 23 of 23 save opportunities in the first half of the season. For the season, he was 6–0 with 34 saves (3rd in the NL) and a 2.76 ERA, and 96 strikeouts in 65.1 innings.[19]
On November 14, 2019, Smith signed a three-year contract with theAtlanta Braves worth $39 million, with a club option for a fourth year.[20]
On July 4, 2020, it was announced that Smith had tested positive forCOVID-19.[21] He returned to baseball-related activities on July 26,[22] and was placed on the Braves' active roster on August 6.[23]
In 2020, he was 2–2 with a 4.50ERA in 18 relief appearances covering 16 innings.[19] On October 16, during Game 5 of the2020 National League Championship Series (NLCS) Smith became the first MLB pitcher to face a position player of the same name in the postseason,Los Angeles Dodgers catcherWill Smith. The faceoff ended with Smith surrendering a three-run home run to the Dodgers' Smith.[24]
In2021, Smith was 3–7 with 37 saves and a 3.44 ERA in 71 relief appearances covering 68 innings. The Braves clinched a playoff berth, and in anNLCS rematch versus theDodgers, he was 2–0 with no runs allowed. Smith closed out Game 6 of theWorld Series versus theHouston Astros, which Atlanta won to clinch the title. He notably did not surrender any runs in the entirepostseason over 11 appearances, going 2–0 with six saves.[19]
The Braves traded Smith to theHouston Astros forJake Odorizzi on August 2, 2022.[25] Smith made his Astros debut the following day versus theBoston Red Sox, allowing a solo home run in an otherwise clean ninth inning.[26] He appeared in 24 games for Houston but did not appear in the postseason for Houston. The Astros advanced to theWorld Series and defeated thePhiladelphia Phillies in six games to give Smith his second World Series title in two seasons, making Smith the tenth player in Major League history to win back-to-back World Series with different teams.[27]
The Astros declined Smith's option for 2023, thereby making him a free agent.[28]
On March 4, 2023, Smith signed a one-year contract with theTexas Rangers.[29] Smith led the Rangers with 22 saves during the regular season. The Rangers defeated Smith's former team, the Astros, in the2023 ALCS to reach the2023 World Series. This marked Smith's third straight World Series appearance with three different teams, a feat accomplished previously byDon Baylor andEric Hinske.[30] Smith pitched two-thirds of an inning in both Game 1 and Game 4 of the 2023 World Series.[31] The Rangers went on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series in 5 games, making Smith a 3-time World Series Champion in the span of 3 years with 3 different teams, the first time this has been done in World Series history and the history of North American professional sports as a whole.[32]
Seeking to address bullpen issues, the Royals reunited with Smith and signed him to a one-year $5 million contract on December 11, 2023.[33] Smith served as a veteran leader that could lead younger arms in the bullpen and helped recruit other free agents to the Royals.[34] Assigned as the team's closer, Smith struggled to start the season. He gave up 11 runs across 9.1 innings in April.[19] Smith was not on the Royals'2024 ALDS roster due to a back injury. The Royals lost in four games to theNew York Yankees, ending Smith's bid for his fourth consecutive championship with his fourth different team.[35]
Smith and his wife, Taylor, married in November 2020 inAtlanta.[36][37] He often requires disambiguation from theLos Angeles Dodgers catcherWill Smith.[38][39]
