Bryn Smith

Bryn Nelson Smith

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
• School Allan Hancock College
• High School Santa Maria High School
• Debut September 8, 1981
• Final Game June 1, 1993
• Born August 11, 1955 in Marietta, GA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Bryn Smith had a successful 13-year career in the Major Leagues, finishing with a record of 108-94 and a 3.53 ERA in 365 games and 1,791 1/3 innings.

Smith was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 49th round of the 1973 amateur draft. Not signing with the Cardinals, he instead signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles organization after the 1974 season. Smith spent three years in the O's minor league system, winning 36 games and completing 35 starts in the process. Those initial seasons coming at single-A and double-A, he was a minor league player toss-in for a trade that sent him, Rudy May, and Randy Miller to the Montreal Expos in exchange for Joe Kerrigan, Gary Roenicke, and Don Stanhouse after the 1977 season. Smith next toiled for Expos farm clubs, peaking in 1981 when he was named the American Association Pitcher of the Year for his efforts with the Denver Bears, when he went 15-5, 3.05. His stellar work led to a September call-up to the Expos where he had his big league debut on September 8th, getting the Philadelphia Phillies' Keith Moreland to bounce into a double play in a brief relief appearance. He earned his first win in a memorable game, an 17-inning 1-0 win over the same Phillies on September 21st; he recorded the final out in the top of the inning before the Expos scored against another rookie, Jerry Reed, in the bottom of the frame in what turned out to be a crucial win as they finished only a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second-half title under the split-season format resulting from the 1981 strike. He had an ERA of 2.77 in 7 games.

Smith spent most of 1982 and 1983 seasons pitching out of the Expos' bullpen. Given a shot as a starter the last two months of 1983, he flourished. In 12 starts Smith pitched to a 5-7 record but with three shutouts and an excellent 2.26 ERA. From there he was a mainstay in the Expos' rotation the next six years, notching double-digit wins each year including 18 in 1985, good for 6th place in the National League. Smith was a control pitcher, placing top 10 in the National League for walks allowed per 9 innings pitched four times. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent in 1990 but at age 34 was not as effective as prior years. Still, the three-year stint in St. Louis included a 1991 campaign when he led the Cards in victories with 12.

Not re-signed by the Cardinals after the 1992 season, Smith had a final season of play after signing as a free agent with the expansion Colorado Rockies. The high point of his limited tour with the club was being the starting and winning pitcher in the Rockies' first ever win on April 9th. Smith hurled seven shutout innings in a 11-4 Colorado victory over his former team, the Expos that day before a crowd of 80,000 in what was the first game played at Mile High Stadium. Success was fleeting and he got hit hard the rest of the year, being released by the club on June 2nd.

Despite spending only nine years and 284 games with Montreal Smith remains in the top 10 of Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals franchise history leaderboards for pitching wins, innings pitched, and strikeouts.

Smith's son, Cody Smith, played professionally. After his playing career, Bryn was the pitching coach of the Salem Avalanche in 1997, Carolina Mudcats in 2001-2002, and Salt Lake Stingers in 2005.

Notable Achievements

• 1981 Pitcher of the Year American Association Denver Bears
• 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1985)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (1985 & 1989)