Joshua Allen Smith (born August 7, 1987) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

and

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

. He also played in the

KBO League The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...

for the

Kiwoom Heroes The Kiwoom Heroes () are a South Korean professional baseball, professional baseball team based in Seoul. They are a member of the KBO League. The Heroes play their home games at Gocheok Sky Dome in Gocheok-dong, a neighborhood located in the sou ...

. Listed at and , he bats and throws right-handed.

Career

Cincinnati Reds

Smith was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 21st round of the

2010 MLB draft The 2010 Major League Baseball draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. First-round selections The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team picking first. ;Key ...

out of

Lipscomb University Lipscomb University is a Private university, private Christian university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The campus is located in the Green Hills, Nashville, Tennessee, Green Hills neighborho ...

. He rose through the Reds'

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nort ...

system, reaching Triple-A in 2014. In 2015, Smith was called up to the majors for the first time on April 13, but did not make his MLB debut until June 23, allowing four runs in three innings of a

no decision A no decision (sometimes written no-decision) is one of either of two sports statistics scenarios; one in baseball and softball, and the other in boxing and related combat sports. Baseball and softball A starting pitcher who leaves a game withou ...

against the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

. He made nine appearances (seven starts) with the Reds in 2015, compiling an 0–4 record with 6.89 ERA. In 2016, Smith made 32 appearances (two starts) with the Reds, pitching to a 3–3 record with a 4.68 ERA. He also spent time in the minor leagues during 2015 and 2016.

Oakland Athletics

On November 4, 2016, Smith was claimed off waivers by the

. In 2017, Smith began the season with the Triple-A

Nashville Sounds The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the ci ...

, until the Athletics purchased his contract on May 3, adding him to their active roster. With the A's during 2017, Smith made 26 relief appearances, recording a 4.89 ERA and a record of 2–1. He was outrighted to Triple-A on November 5, 2017, and then elected to become a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

Seattle Mariners

On March 15, 2018, Smith signed a minor league contract with the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

. He made four appearances with the

Tacoma Rainiers The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, ...

of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

, recording a 6.10 ERA, and was released on April 21, 2018.

Boston Red Sox

On May 16, 2018, Smith signed a minor league contract with the

. He joined the Triple-A

Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...

in June, appearing in 18 games (10 starts) with a 5–6 record and 4.14 ERA. Smith started the 2019 season with Pawtucket. He was added to Boston's active roster on April 26 to make a spot-start against the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

; however, the game was rained out. Smith made his Red Sox debut on May 3, pitching a scoreless inning against the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

. He next made a spot start against the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

on May 6, taking the loss while allowing four runs in innings. Smith was returned to Pawtucket on May 20, when David Price was activated from the

injured list In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL). General guidelines ...

. Smith was optioned between Pawtucket and Boston several times during June; he recorded his first MLB save on June 13, against the Texas Rangers. After spending all of July with Pawtucket, Smith was recalled to Boston on August 2, when Heath Hembree was placed on the injured list. Smith was optioned back to Pawtucket two days later, and recalled to Boston on August 20. Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Smith appeared in 18 games (two starts), compiling an 0–3 record with one save, along with a 5.81 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 31 innings. Smith was removed from Boston's 40-man roster in October and sent outright to Pawtucket. On October 21, he elected to become a

Miami Marlins

On December 18, 2019, Smith signed a minor league contract with the

. On August 3, 2020, Smith was selected to the active roster. On October 29, 2020, Smith was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.

Kiwoom Heroes

On December 11, 2020, Smith signed with the

of the

. On April 15, 2021, he was waived after posting a 6.30 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over two starts.

Miami Marlins (second stint)

On April 27, 2021, Smith signed a minor league contract with the

. Smith played in 9 games between the Florida Complex League Marlins and the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, registering a 2–0 record and 2.60 ERA. On July 22, Smith was released by the Marlins organization.

Algodoneros de Unión Laguna

On June 21, 2022, Smith signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. In 8 starts for the team, he recorded a 3.66 ERA with 25 strikeouts across innings pitched. Smith was released on April 19, 2023.

Personal

Smith is often referred to online and in print as Josh A. Smith, to differentiate him from Josh D. Smith, especially since the two players were teammates for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2018. The two were also teammates for the Miami Marlins in 2020.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Josh 1987 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in South Korea Baseball players from Broward County, Florida Bakersfield Blaze players Billings Mustangs players Boston Red Sox players Cincinnati Reds players Dayton Dragons players Florida Complex League Marlins players Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp players Kiwoom Heroes players 21st-century American sportsmen Lipscomb Bisons baseball players Louisville Bats players Major League Baseball pitchers Miami Marlins players Naranjeros de Hermosillo players American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Nashville Sounds players Oakland Athletics players Pawtucket Red Sox players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players People from Margate, Florida Tacoma Rainiers players American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Leones del Escogido players Algodoneros de Unión Laguna players