Caleb Smith Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 2" / 207 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 7/28/1991 (32)
- Experience
- 3
- College
- Sam Houston State
Caleb Smith Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Caleb Smith News
Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Caleb Smith is being stretched out as a starter in spring training, according to pitching coach Oscar Marin. The 31-year-old southpaw served as a reliever in 2022 with the Arizona Diamondbacks before a torn elbow ligament ended his season. However, Smith didn't need surgery on his elbow and reported to camp healthy with Pittsburgh after signing a minor-league deal. Along with Smith, Quinn Priester, Mike Burrows, Johan Oviedo and Luis Ortiz are candidates to make starts for the Bucs in 2023. Priester is the team's No. 5 prospect, per Baseball America. Despite the fact that Smith is healthy this year, he's probably more of a long shot to win a rotation role to open the regular season in Pittsburgh.
Free-agent left-hander Caleb Smith agreed to a minor-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. The deal includes an invitation to major-league spring training. Smith previously pitched for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks. The 31-year-old southpaw spent last year with the Diamondbacks and went 1-3 with a 4.11 ERA (5.57 FIP), 1.37 WHIP and 21.5 percent walk rate in 70 innings over 44 appearances (only one start). Smith has made 64 career major-league starts in his six seasons, but he's only made 14 starts the last two years in the desert. He'll need to cut down on the free passes issued if he wants an opportunity to compete for a roster spot on Pittsburgh's big-league club in 2023.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Caleb Smith (elbow) suffered an elbow injury in Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three across 1 2/3 innings before exiting. The 31-year-old will undergo imaging to determine the severity of his injury. He finished the 2022 season with a 1-3 record, a 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and a 65:39 K: BB across 70 innings. Smith will have a whole offseason to be ready for Spring Training in 2023.
Caleb Smith Stats
Last 10 Games
Arizona Diamondbacks starter Caleb Smith had a wild, injury-shortened 2020 season. Really, that could be said about any part of his career. Smith has shown flashes of dominance at times, but has been unable to sustain success over long periods. He put up a 2.57 ERA in 2020, though it was only over 14 innings. Smith also managed to walk 12 batters and allow three home runs in those 14 innings, so his 2.57 ERA is less impressive when taken in context. A COVID infection cost Smith over a month of action and lingering effects of the virus may have affected his on-field ability, so it's okay to be a bit forgiving of his limited 2020 numbers. If we wipe away Smith's 2020, we get a pitcher who's maintained an impressive 26.3% strikeout rate over his last two seasons. Smith has gotten excellent results with his slider, which batters have hit just .196 against with a 16% swinging strike rate all time. With above average break for a lefty, the pitch is tremendous as generating whiffs while avoiding hard contact. The slider isn't Smith's only weapon either, as he has a 17.1% swinging strike rate with his changeup for his career, along with a .234 AVG against. His changeup has helped Smith maintain even platoon splits, as he's been able to hold righties to just a .213 AVG over his career compared to a .247 AVG for lefties. With two solid pitches and the ability to neutralize hitters on both sides, Smith should have no problem flourishing as a starter in the majors, however he carries a couple of flaws that have limited his success. Chronic Gopheritis (1.71 career HR/9) and wild control (10.3% career BB rate) make it hard for Smith to keep runners off the bases and from crossing home plate. With strikeouts easier to come by in the modern era, Smith loses some appeal as a late round sleeper. Still, he's worth a gamble in deeper leagues as a back-end starter.
