Chris Smith (smithch08)

Christopher Michael Smith

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School University of California, Riverside
• High School Hesperia High School
• Debut June 21, 2008
• Final Game September 30, 2017

• Born April 9, 1981 in Apple Valley, CA, USA

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Biographical Information

Chris Smith pitched four innings in relief in his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 21, 2008 at Fenway Park. He was called on to relieve Daisuke Matsuzaka in the 2nd inning, with the bases loaded and nobody out and the Red Sox already trailing 4-0. He struck out the first batter he faced, Rick Ankiel, on three pitches, but then gave up a grand slam to Troy Glaus. While he gave up no further runs, the Sox lost the game 9-3. He earned his first win with two scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 24.

After last pitching in the majors in 2010, Smith came back with the Oakland Athletics on August 7, 2016. he had been out of baseball from May of 2011, when he was released by the Seattle Mariners, until 2013, when he hooked up with the Wichita Wingnuts of the independent American Association. He spent 2014 and 2015 in the San Diego Padres organization before signing on with the Athletics in 2016. He was 6-8, 3.93 in 22 starts for the Nashville Sounds, logging 130 2/3 innings, when he was called up by the A's.

He was one of two Chris Smiths to last play in the majors in 2017. The other Chris Smith pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays that year.

Smith became a pitching coach with the Stockton Ports in 2019. He was scheduled to return to Stockton before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19, then did coach Stockton again in 2021. Smith moved up to the Midland Rockhounds as their pitching coach in 2022-2023.

Related Sites

• Chris Smith on mlb.com