Chad Smith (baseball, born 1995)

1. Overview

Rodney Chad Smith (born June 8, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics and is currently a free agent. Smith began his professional career in 2016 with the Miami Marlins organization after being drafted, progressing through their minor league affiliates before being traded to the Rockies in 2020. He made his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2022 and later joined the Athletics via trade, where he recorded his first MLB win. After a stint with the Athletics, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets in late 2023. His grandfather, Norm Zauchin, was also an MLB player.

2. Early Life and Amateur Career

Chad Smith's path to professional baseball involved a comprehensive amateur career through high school and college, including participation in the Major League Baseball draft on two occasions.

2.1. High School and College Years

Smith graduated from McAdory High School in McCalla, Alabama. Following high school, he enrolled at Wallace State Community College, where he honed his skills playing college baseball for two years. After his time at Wallace State, he transferred to the University of Mississippi, continuing his college baseball career with the Ole Miss Rebels.

2.2. MLB Draft

Smith was first selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 23rd round of the 2015 MLB draft, as the 694th overall pick. However, he chose not to sign with the Indians, opting instead to continue his collegiate baseball career at the University of Mississippi. The following year, in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, the Miami Marlins selected him in the 11th round, as the 323rd overall pick. This time, Smith signed a professional contract with the Marlins, beginning his professional baseball journey.

3. Professional Career

Chad Smith's professional baseball career spans several Major League Baseball organizations, including his time in the minor leagues and his appearances at the Major League level.

3.1. Miami Marlins (2016-2020)

Smith spent his inaugural professional season in 2016 within the Miami Marlins organization. He was assigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast Marlins and later played for the Low-A Batavia Muckdogs. In 2017, he played for the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, where he recorded a 3-2 win-loss record and a 2.93 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 7 saves over 34 appearances. The 2018 season saw him pitching for the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads, accumulating a 5-3 record with a 3.57 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 35.1 innings across 30 games. During this period, he also led the Marlins organization in saves, tying for first place with 12 saves. In 2019, Smith split his time between Jupiter and the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Across both teams, he posted a combined 3-2 record, a 4.54 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and 6 saves in 34 games, pitching 41.2 innings. He did not play in any official games during the 2020 season due to the cancellation of the minor league season resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

3.2. Colorado Rockies (2020-2022)

On August 13, 2020, the Miami Marlins traded Smith to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for pitcher Jesús Tinoco. Smith spent the entire 2021 season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, where he posted a 2-1 record with 3 saves and a 2.97 ERA, accumulating 37 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched over 36 appearances. He was assigned to Albuquerque to commence the 2022 season. On May 28, 2022, Smith was added to the Rockies' 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time in his career. He made his Major League Baseball debut the following day, on May 29, in a game against the Washington Nationals, where he pitched one scoreless inning in relief during the seventh inning. In his rookie campaign with Colorado, Smith made 15 appearances, logging a 7.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 18.0 innings pitched.

3.3. Oakland Athletics (2022-2023)

On December 6, 2022, the Colorado Rockies traded Smith to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Jeff Criswell. Smith began the 2023 season optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. He was called up to the major leagues on April 12, 2023, and earned his first Major League Baseball win on the same day against the Baltimore Orioles. In that game, he pitched two innings, allowing only one hit while striking out three batters and surrendering no runs. However, his subsequent appearances were less consistent; he pitched only two more games, on June 11 and July 23, both resulting in earned runs through a timely hit and a home run, respectively, and one of these appearances resulted in a loss. Across 9 games for Oakland in his initial stint, Smith recorded a 6.75 ERA with 9 strikeouts over 12.0 innings of work. On July 4, he was designated for assignment by the Athletics after Manny Piña was activated from the injured list. He subsequently cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on July 6. On July 22, Smith was once again selected back to the major league roster. In 10 games during his second stint with Oakland, he pitched to a 6.59 ERA with 9 strikeouts across 13.2 innings pitched. Following the conclusion of the season, on November 6, Smith was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted back to Triple-A Las Vegas. He elected to become a free agent on the same day.

3.4. New York Mets (2023-2024)

On December 26, 2023, Smith signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. As part of this agreement, he was invited to participate in the Mets' 2024 spring training. However, his tenure with the organization was brief, as he was released by the Mets on March 25, 2024.

Year	Team	G	W	L	PCT	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	R	ER	ERA	WHIP
2022	COL	15	0	1	.000	18.0	16	2	15	23	15	15	7.50	1.72
2023	OAK	10	1	2	.333	13.2	15	2	7	9	10	10	6.59	1.61
MLB Career: 2 years		25	1	3	.250	31.2	31	4	22	32	25	25	7.11	1.67

5.2. Jersey Numbers

Chad Smith has worn the following jersey numbers during his Major League Baseball career:

56 (2022)
30 (2023)