Jordan Smith (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Jordan Smith is a relief pitcher
for the Cincinnati Reds
. Smith is 6'4, 220 pounds and bats and throws right handed.
in Pleasant Grove, Utah
. He spent one season at Salt Lake Community College
, playing mostly as catcher. Due to injuries among SLCC's pitching staff, he was moved to mound and started throwing fastballs in the low 90's (mph). He also played for the Community College of Southern Nevada
in Las Vegas
before his professional career began. Smith's brother is Egan Smith, a left handed pitcher who was drafted by and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays
in 2009.
with the 174th overall pick. He was signed by scout Jeff Morris. Smith started his professional career in 2006, playing for rookie class Billings
. He was a Pioneer League All-Star. His 3.01 earned run average
ranked seventh among all Reds minor league pitchers; his six wins was tied for first in the Pioneer League and his ERA was sixth best. Smith did not allow a home run in his first 11 starts (57 1/3 innings).
in 2007. He was 10-8 in 26 starts for the Dragons, and allowed two earned runs or fewer in 16 of his starts. In a 30 2/3 innings stretch from April 27 to May 18, he posted a 0.88 ERA and struck out 23, with a 2-2 record. Smith had eight quality start
s, allowing 0 runs in four starts combined (27 innings).
. In 21 starts combined, he went 9-8 with a 3.84 ERA. His ERA ranked eighth among all Reds minor leaguers. He earned the Reds minor league pitcher of the month for April. Smith was a Florida State League
All-Star while in Sarasota. Over a 24 2/3 innings, three start stretch from April 30 to May 2; Smith pitched eight innings or more in all three, allowed three runs, and walked none. He was promoted to Chattanooga on May 25, earning an invitation to the 2009 major league spring training
camp.
), but only made 13 starts. He made three separate trips to the disabled list
for throwing elbow and left knee injuries, and the elbow kept him out of action for the rest of the season after July 2. He still was a Southern League
mid-season All-Star, and pitcher of the week for the week of 5/18 to 5/24. Smith was a non-roster invitee for big league camp, but was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2009, guaranteeing him an invitation.
, but returned to the Reds as a September call-up. Smith did not make the Reds 25-man post season roster, but is an eligible reserve.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Smith is 6'4, 220 pounds and bats and throws right handed.
Early life
Smith graduated from Pleasant Grove High SchoolPleasant Grove High School (Utah)
Pleasant Grove High School is a public high school located in Pleasant Grove, Utah.- History :Pleasant Grove High School was established in 1912. It started in a small one-room building. Additional rooms were eventually added on due to the increasing number of students. The former location was...
in Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant Grove, Utah
Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees", is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,798 at the 2008 census estimates.-History:...
. He spent one season at Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College is the largest higher education institution with the most diverse student body in Utah . The College offers and operates throughout the Salt Lake valley. Even with its large student body, the College maintains a student to faculty ratio of just 20 to 1...
, playing mostly as catcher. Due to injuries among SLCC's pitching staff, he was moved to mound and started throwing fastballs in the low 90's (mph). He also played for the Community College of Southern Nevada
Community College of Southern Nevada
The College of Southern Nevada is primarily a two-year college in Clark County, Nevada, with one four-year degree in Dental Hygiene. The school is the largest public higher education institution in Nevada and the third largest of its kind in the nation...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
before his professional career began. Smith's brother is Egan Smith, a left handed pitcher who was drafted by and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in 2009.
2006
The Reds selected Smith in the 6th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
with the 174th overall pick. He was signed by scout Jeff Morris. Smith started his professional career in 2006, playing for rookie class Billings
Billings Mustangs
The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated...
. He was a Pioneer League All-Star. His 3.01 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
ranked seventh among all Reds minor league pitchers; his six wins was tied for first in the Pioneer League and his ERA was sixth best. Smith did not allow a home run in his first 11 starts (57 1/3 innings).
2007
Smith was promoted to class-A DaytonDayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
in 2007. He was 10-8 in 26 starts for the Dragons, and allowed two earned runs or fewer in 16 of his starts. In a 30 2/3 innings stretch from April 27 to May 18, he posted a 0.88 ERA and struck out 23, with a 2-2 record. Smith had eight quality start
Quality start
In baseball, a quality start is a statistic for a starting pitcher defined as a game in which the pitcher completes at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs....
s, allowing 0 runs in four starts combined (27 innings).
2008
Smith split the season with class-A advanced Sarasota and class-AA ChattanoogaChattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
. In 21 starts combined, he went 9-8 with a 3.84 ERA. His ERA ranked eighth among all Reds minor leaguers. He earned the Reds minor league pitcher of the month for April. Smith was a Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All-Star while in Sarasota. Over a 24 2/3 innings, three start stretch from April 30 to May 2; Smith pitched eight innings or more in all three, allowed three runs, and walked none. He was promoted to Chattanooga on May 25, earning an invitation to the 2009 major league spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
camp.
2009
Smith remained in Double A (now the Carolina MudcatsCarolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
), but only made 13 starts. He made three separate trips to the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
for throwing elbow and left knee injuries, and the elbow kept him out of action for the rest of the season after July 2. He still was a Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
mid-season All-Star, and pitcher of the week for the week of 5/18 to 5/24. Smith was a non-roster invitee for big league camp, but was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2009, guaranteeing him an invitation.
Major League Baseball
The Reds signed Smith to a one-year, $400,000 contract on March 3, 2010. Smith was promoted from Carolina to the Cincinnati Reds on June 15. He was optioned to triple A LouisvilleLouisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
, but returned to the Reds as a September call-up. Smith did not make the Reds 25-man post season roster, but is an eligible reserve.