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Canaan Smith-Njigba

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Canaan Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1999-04-30) April 30, 1999 (age 25)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 14, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.135
Home runs0
Runs batted in5
Teams

Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Amateur career

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Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball.[1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.[2] During his senior year, he garnered attention after he was intentionally walked 32 times in 24 games, or a rate of 1.33 per game.[3] After his senior season, he was selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

Professional career

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New York Yankees

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After signing with the Yankees, Smith-Njigba made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees, where he hit .289/.430/.422 with five home runs and 28 RBIs over 57 games. In 2018, he played with the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York–Penn League where he hit .191 with three home runs and 16 RBIs over 45 games, missing time due to injury. In 2019, he played for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League, with whom he earned All-Star honors.[4] Over 124 games, he batted .307/.405/.465 with 11 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.[5] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On January 24, 2021, the Yankees traded Smith-Njigba (alongside Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras and Maikol Escotto) to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jameson Taillon.[7] He was assigned to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Northeast for a majority of the 2021 season.[8] He was placed on the injured list briefly at the end of July, but activated in early August.[9] He was placed back on the injured list in mid-August with a thigh injury, but was activated one month later.[10] Over 66 games, he hit .274/.398/.406 with six home runs, 40 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.[11] Following the end of Altoona's season in mid-September, he was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A East with whom he appeared in seven games.[12] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after the season.[13] On November 19, 2021, the Pirates selected his contract and added him to their 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.[14] He returned to the Indians to begin the 2022 season.[15]

On June 13, 2022, the Pirates promoted Smith-Njigba to the major leagues.[16] He registered his first major league hit the next night while pinch-hitting and recorded a double off of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos.[17] He played in three games, going 1–for–5. On June 17, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a wrist fracture.[18]

In 2023, Smith-Njigba played in 15 games for Pittsburgh, going 4–for–32 (.125) with no home runs, five RBI, and one stolen base.[19] He was designated for assignment by the Pirates on January 31, 2024.[20]

On February 7, 2024, Smith-Njigba was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners.[21] Ten days later, on February 17, he was designated for assignment.[22] On February 19, he returned to the Pirates on another waiver claim.[23] Smith-Njigba was optioned to Triple–A Indianapolis to begin the 2024 season.[24] However, he was designated for assignment following multiple roster moves on March 28.[25] Smith-Njigba cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Indianapolis on March 31.[26] He made 54 appearances for Indianapolis, hitting .212/.344/.330 with two home runs, 18 RBI, and six stolen bases. Smith-Njigba was released by the Pirates organization on July 6.[27]

Chicago White Sox

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On August 7, 2024, Smith-Njigba signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[28] He became a free agent after the 2024 season.[29]

Personal life

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Smith-Njigba is the older brother of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.[30]

Smith-Njigba's paternal grandparents are from Sierra Leone.[31]

References

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  1. ^ Baugh, Tim (October 26, 2016). "Canaan Smith, Sr, C/1B/OF, Rockwall Heath". Texas High School Baseball. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Canaan Smith Class of 2017". Perfect Game USA. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Florek, Michael (April 4, 2017). "Baseball thoughts: This week's mammoth matchups, and the area player who's walking at a higher rate than Barry Bonds". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Seven RiverDogs selected to South Atlantic League All-Star Game". Post and Courier. June 5, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Cunningham, Daniel (April 17, 2020). "New York Yankees Prospects: Canaan Smith". Empire Sports Media. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Yankees land RHP Taillon in trade with Pirates". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 24, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Curve roster for 2021 season loaded with top Pirates prospects". The Tribune-Democrat. May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Back from IL". CBSSports.com. August 5, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Out with thigh injury". CBSSports.com. August 11, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  11. ^ Williams, Tim (September 13, 2021). "Canaan Smith-Njigba Sets His Offseason Plan". Baseball America. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Mackey, Jason (September 19, 2021). "Sources: Pirates making several promotions to Class AAA Indianapolis". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Callis, Jim; Mayo, Jonathan; Dykstra, Sam (October 6, 2021). "Arizona Fall League rosters 2021 prospect loaded". MLB.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  14. ^ Mackey, Jason (November 19, 2021). "Pirates add four to 40-man roster, designate Michael Perez for assignment". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Kayser, Anna (April 5, 2022). "Pirates No. 1 Prospect, Oneil Cruz, Headlines Indy's Opening Day Roster". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Mackey, Jason (June 13, 2022). "Patient approach produces long-awaited MLB shot for Pirates prospect Canaan Smith-Njigba". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Gates, Riley (June 14, 2022). "Canaan Smith-Njigba, brother of Ohio State star WR, records first MLB hit for Pittsburgh Pirates". 247sports.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  18. ^ Gorman, Kevin (June 17, 2022). "Pirates place OF Canaan Smith-Njigba on 60-day IL, call up LHP Cam Vieaux". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  19. ^ "Canaan Smith-Njigba – Stats – Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  20. ^ "Pirates Designate Canaan Smith-Njigba For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. January 31, 2024.
  21. ^ "Former Pirates OF Canaan Smith-Njigba claimed by Mariners". February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "Mariners Claim Levi Stoudt, Designate Canaan Smith-Njigba". MLB Trade Rumors. February 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Pirates Claim Canaan Smith-Njigba From Mariners". MLB Trade Rumors. February 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. March 16, 2024.
  25. ^ "Pirates Designate Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jackson Wolf, Ali Sánchez For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  26. ^ "Pirates Outright Canaan Smith-Njigba; Ali Sanchez Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  27. ^ "Canaan Smith-Njigba: Heads to free agency". CBSSports.com. July 8, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  28. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com.
  29. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  30. ^ Mackey, Jason (January 27, 2021). "Pirates prospect Canaan Smith-Njigba full of patience, potential". Pittsburgh Post–Gazette. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Carpenter, Zack (April 25, 2020). "Ohio State's Impactful Nigerian Connections, Relationship with Greg Mattison and Eye-Opening June Visit Were Driving Forces in Tunmise Adeleye's Recruitment". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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