Greg Smith (smithgr02)

Gregory Thomas Smith

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
• School Louisiana State University
• High School Alexandria (LA) High School
• Debut April 9, 2008
• Final Game May 19, 2010
• Born December 22, 1983 in Alexandria, LA, USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Greg Smith had a 4.91 ERA and no decisions for Team USA in the 2006 COPABE Olympic Qualifier to help the US earn a spot in the 2008 Olympics.

Smith was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks and scout Mike Valarezo as a 6th round pick in the 2005 amateur draft.

Smith was one of the players obtained by the Oakland Athletics from the Diamondbacks in return for pitcher Dan Haren after the 2007 season. He had been a successful starter in the minors moving rapidly from Rookie-ball in 2005 to AAA in 2007. He compiled a 9-5 record in 22 starts between the AA Mobile BayBears and AAA Tucson Sidewinders in 2007, with a 3.54 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 122 innings.

Smith made his major league debut for the A's on April 9, 2008 as the starting pitcher against the Toronto Blue Jays. He gave up 3 runs (2 of them earned) in 6 innings, walking none and striking out 5, before turning the game over to the bullpen. Fernando Hernandez, also making his major league debut that day, picked up the win in relief. Smith had been recalled from the minors shortly earlier when Rich Harden was placed on the disabled list. He was a regular starter for the A's as a rookie, going 7-16, 4.16 in 32 starts and logging 190 1/3 innings. After the season, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies alongside Carlos Gonzalez and Huston Street in return for Matt Holliday. While the three other players in the deal went on to have long and successful careers in the big leagues, Greg made just 8 starts for the Rockies at the strt of the 2010 season, after playing in the minors in 2009 where his year was cut short by an injury. He went 1-2, 6.23 for the Rockies, making his last appearance on May 19th. He then pitched in the minors until 2016, but never made it back to the Show.