| Drew Smyly | |
|---|---|
_(51102611335)_(cropped).png) Smyly with theAtlanta Braves in 2021 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-06-13)June 13, 1989 (age 35) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 12, 2012, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 68–66 |
| Earned run average | 4.20 |
| Strikeouts | 1,119 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Todd Andrew Smyly (born June 13, 1989) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theDetroit Tigers,Tampa Bay Rays,Texas Rangers,Philadelphia Phillies,San Francisco Giants,Atlanta Braves andChicago Cubs.
Prior to his professional career, Smyly playedcollege baseball at theUniversity of Arkansas. He competed for theUnited States national baseball team, winning thesilver medal in the2011 Pan American Games. The Tigers drafted Smyly in the second round of the2010 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012. Smyly was a part of the2021 World Series champions with the Braves.
Smyly was born inLittle Rock, Arkansas,[1] to parents Todd and Toni,[2][3] and grew up inMaumelle, Arkansas.[4] He attendedLittle Rock Central High School in Little Rock, where he established school records on the baseball team forwins (10) andstrikeouts (118) in his junior year.[4][5]
Smyly attended theUniversity of Arkansas, where he playedcollege baseball for theArkansas Razorbacks baseball team in theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division I. In 2008 he did not play, as he had a fractured left elbow into which two screws were inserted.[5][6] As aredshirt freshman in 2009, Smyly came within two outs of pitching the firstno-hitter at theNCAA Division I championship tournament in 18 years.[7]
During the summer following his 2009 season, Smyly pitched for theDuluth Huskies of theNorthwoods League where he played for a brief time under formerNew York Mets ManagerTerry Collins. Serving in the Razorbacksstarting rotation in 2010, Smyly had a 9–1win–loss record with a 2.80earned run average (ERA) and 114 strikeouts in 103innings pitched, and was named All-SEC.[8]
TheDetroit Tigers drafted Smyly in the second round (68th overall) of the2010 MLB draft.[9] He signed with the Tigers, receiving a $1.1 millionsigning bonus.[10] Pitching for theLakeland Tigers of the Class A-AdvancedFlorida State League and theErie SeaWolves of the Class AAEastern League, Smyly was named the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2011, pitching to an 11–6win–loss record in 22 games (21 starts) with a 2.07earned run average (ERA) and 130strikeouts in 126innings pitched.[11][12] He was also FSL Pitcher of the Week on June 13, and an MiLB.com Tigers Organization All-Star.[13]
Heading into the 2012 season,MLB.com ranked Smyly the 82nd-best prospect in baseball,[14] whileBaseball America ranked him the third-best prospect in the Tigers organization, behindJacob Turner andNick Castellanos.[15] The Tigers invited Smyly tospring training in 2012, allowing him to compete for a spot in the Tigers starting rotation.[16] Smyly won the competition, beginning the 2012 season in the starting rotation of the Detroit Tigers, though he made one start with theToledo Mud Hens of theClass-AAAInternational League on April 7 prior to being called up for his MLB debut on April 12.[11] On June 14, he was placed on thedisabled list (retroactive to June 11) due to a blister on his left hand.[17] Following the Tigers' trade deadline acquisition of starterAníbal Sánchez from theMiami Marlins, Smyly spent much of August and September coming out of the Tigers' bullpen.
On the season, Smyly pitched99+1⁄3 innings, compiling a 4–3 record with 94 strikeouts, 33 walks, and a 3.99 ERA.[18] He was named to the Tigers postseason roster.
Smyly was the winning pitcher in Game 1 of the2012 ALCS against theNew York Yankees, pitching the final two innings of the Tigers’ extra-innings win.[19]
Smyly competed withRick Porcello in spring training for the fifth spot in the Tigers' 2013 starting rotation. On March 26, it was announced that Porcello had won the No. 5 starter job, and that Smyly would start the season in the Tiger bullpen.[20] On April 5, Smyly got his first career save after pitching four perfect innings of relief in an 8–3 win over the Yankees. In his first full season as a reliever, Smyly posted a 6–0 record with two saves in 63 games with a 2.37 ERA.[18] He led all Tigers relievers and all AL lefty relievers in innings pitched (76) and strikeouts (81).[21]
With the departure of Tigers starterDoug Fister via trade, Smyly was named the No. 5 starter in the Tigers rotation for the 2014 season. Because of off days, he pitched six innings out of the bullpen before making his season debut as a starter on April 18.[22] Smyly pitched seven shutout innings to earn the win in a May 3 game against theKansas City Royals. This marked his first win as a starter since July 6, 2012, which also came against Kansas City.[23] On July 25, in a game against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Smyly matched his season high in strikeouts (8) after just three innings, and finished the game with a career-high 11 strikeouts in5+2⁄3 innings.[24]
On July 31, 2014, the Detroit Tigers traded Smyly to theTampa Bay Rays, along withWilly Adames, in a three-team deal that also sentAustin Jackson to theSeattle Mariners,Nick Franklin from the Mariners to the Rays, andDavid Price to the Tigers.[25] On September 9, Rays' managerJoe Maddon announced they would shut down Smyly for the remainder of the season, after he had pitched a career-high 153 innings. After being traded to the Rays, Smyly went 3–1 with a 1.70 ERA in seven starts. Opponents hit .155 against him, a figure that led the AL over that span.[26] For the 2014 season he was 9–10 with a 3.24 ERA in 28 games, 25 of which were starts.[18]
In 2015 he was 5–2 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts, as he struck out 77 batters in66+2⁄3 innings.[18]
On February 4, 2016, Smyly won his arbitration case against the Rays. He earned $3.75 million in 2016.[27] In 2016 he was 7–12 with a 4.88 ERA in 30 starts in which he pitched175+1⁄3 innings.[13] The 32 home runs he gave up were fifth-most in the American League.[13]
On January 11, 2017, the Rays traded Smyly to theSeattle Mariners forMallex Smith,Ryan Yarbrough, andCarlos Vargas.[28] Smyly began the season on the disabled list. On June 28, the team announced Smyly would needTommy John surgery for a torn left elbowulnar collateral ligament, which he had the following month, ending his season with Seattle without him having started a game.[29]
On December 12, 2017, Smyly signed a two-year, $10 million deal with theChicago Cubs.[30] During the 2018 season, after recovering from his surgery Smyly made a single appearance in the minor leagues, pitching one inning for theClass ASouth Bend Cubs, striking out three.
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On November 2, 2018, the Cubs traded Smyly and aplayer to be named later to theTexas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later.[31] He was placed on the disabled list on April 20 with a left arm injury. On June 20, he was designated for assignment.[32] On June 25, he was released by Texas.[33] For the portion of the 2019 season that he pitched for Texas, he was 1–5 with an 8.42 ERA in 13 games, 9 of which were starts, as he struck out 52 batters in51+1⁄3 innings.[18]
On July 1, 2019, Smyly signed a minor league deal with theMilwaukee Brewers. Starting three games for the AAASan Antonio Missions, he was 1–0 with a 4.97 ERA with 18 strikeouts in12+2⁄3 innings.[1] He elected free agency on July 18.[13]
On July 21, 2019, Smyly signed a major league contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[18][34] With the Phillies he was 3–2 with a 4.45 ERA, as in 12 starts, he pitched62+2⁄3 innings and struck out 68 batters; the 32 home runs he gave up for the season between Texas and Philadelphia were the 10th-most in the major leagues.[35]
On January 16, 2020, Smyly signed a one-year deal with theSan Francisco Giants.[36] On the shortened season, Smyly pitched in 7 games (5 starts) with a record of 0–1 in26+1⁄3 innings.
On November 16, 2020, Smyly signed a one-year contract worth $11 million with theAtlanta Braves.[37][38] In 2021 he was 11–4 with a 4.48 ERA.[35] The Braves finished with an 88–73 record, clinching the NL East, and eventually won the 2021 World Series, giving the Braves their first title since 1995.[39]
On March 19, 2022, Smyly and theChicago Cubs agreed to a contract worth $4.25 million for the 2022 season.[40][41] Smyly finished the 2022 season with a 7–8 record and a 3.47 ERA in 22 starts for the Cubs. He became a free agent after the season. On December 24, 2022, Smyly re-signed with the Cubs on a two-year, $19 million contract with an opt-out clause after the 2023 season and a mutual option for the 2025 season.[42]
On April 21, 2023, Smyly was heading towards a perfect game when retired the first 21 batters he faced in a start against theLos Angeles Dodgers, until Smyly collided with catcherYan Gomes while trying to field aground ball byDavid Peralta. He pitched7+2⁄3 innings, registering 10 strikeouts.[43] The Cubs declined his 2025 option on November 2, 2024, making him a free agent.[44]
After the 2011 season, Smyly pitched for theUnited States national baseball team in the2011 Baseball World Cup and the2011 Pan American Games,[45] winning thesilver medal.[46] Smyly also pitched for Team USA in the2017 World Baseball Classic.[47]
Smyly throws four pitches. His primary pitch is afour-seam fastball at 91 mph, known for the fact that it explodes on the hitter. He adds acurveball at 77 with little depth, a pitch that he has described as "uniquely bad".[48] He has acut fastball around 87, which has drawn praise for its late, darting movement into right-handed hitters and away from lefties. Since 2014, he has re-added achangeup in the 83 mph range that he throws almost exclusively to right-handed hitters. He will also mix in a slider (83–85) on occasion.[49]
In 2020, his four-seam averaged nearly 94 mph, at 2249 rpm while his curveball also increased to 80 mph average at 2153 rpm compared to 1950 rpm in 2019. The improvements were due to his longer arm swing, higher glove position off the raised front thigh at windup, and a faster arm speed at release, but also having well-recovered fromTommy John surgery.[50]
Smyly and his wife, Eryn, had a daughter in 2017.[51] They reside inScottsdale, Arizona.[52]
