Josh Smoker

Joshua Michael Smoker

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Calhoun (GA) High School
• Debut August 19, 2016
• Final Game August 26, 2018
• Born November 26, 1988 in Calhoun, GA, USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Josh Smoker was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the supplemental 1st round of the 2007 amateur draft, with the 31st overall pick. He was signed by scout Eric Robinson for $1 million and made his pro debut that summer. he played in the Nationals organization from 2007 to 2012, peaking with the Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League, for whom he went 5-2, 2.31 in 46 games as a reliever in 2011. However, the following season, he was racked by injuries and put up a 7.45 ERA in only 6 games.

After not playing at all in 2013, Josh began a comeback with the Rockford Aviators of the independent Frontier League in 2014. He went 1-0, 4.03 in 28 games and before the 2015 season was able to sign a free agent contract with the New York Mets. he started off with the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League, then also pitched for the St. Lucie Mets and Binghamton Mets that year, reaching AA for the first time. He was a combined 3-0, 3.12 in 41 games with 6 saves and 60 strikeouts in 49 innings. In his 8th professional season, he was finally getting close to the major leagues and was being groomed as a potential LOOGY. In 2016, he began the season with the Las Vegas 51s of the AAA Pacific Coast League. On July 26th, he was briefly called-up to the parent Mets who played a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals. Under the 26th Man Rule, he was eligible to play in the second game that day, but his services were not required and he returned to Las Vegas the next day. He did make his debut with the Mets on August 19th, giving up 2 runs in a third of an inning against the San Francisco Giants.

On January 31, 2018, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor leaguer Daniel Zamora, a couple of days after he had been designated for assignment when the Mets had re-signed free agent IF Jose Reyes.

Appropriately, he uses "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple as his entrance music when summoned into a game.

Related Sites

• Josh Smoker on mlb.com
• BR Minors page