Justin Smoak
Encyclopedia
Justin Kyle Smoak (born December 5, 1986 in Goose Creek, South Carolina
) is an American Major League Baseball
first baseman
for the Seattle Mariners
.
in 2005. Smoak played four years of varsity high school baseball under coach John Chalus. It wasn't until his junior year in high school that scouts began to notice his talent because they were originally scouting his teammate and friend, Matt Wieters
. However, Smoak soon made his presence known among scouts. He was named by ABCA, Baseball America
, and Collegiate Baseball as a 2005 high school All-American. He was also one of 36 high school players in the nation to play in the 2005 high school All-American baseball game, named South Carolina AAAA Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, named co-Mr. Baseball for 2005 in South Carolina (alongside Gamecock teammate Reese Havens), made the 2004 and 2005 South Carolina AAAA All-State team, and a member of the 2005 South Carolina AAAA state championship team while with the Stratford Knights. He was initially drafted by the Oakland Athletics
as a sixteenth-round pick in 2005 upon graduation, but deferred and went to the University of South Carolina
.
. In his three years playing for South Carolina, Smoak consistently put up big numbers. After batting .303 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI, Smoak earned Freshman All-American honors. He followed up with a .315 batting average, 22 home runs, and 72 RBI in his sophomore year, good enough to be tabbed as a third-team All-American. For his junior year, Smoak batted .383, with 23 home runs and 72 RBI. Smoak is South Carolina's all-time home run king with 62, breaking Hank Small
's record of 48, which stood for over 30 years. Smoak is also South Carolina's career leader in RBIs and walks.
Smoak had also been named a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award
in 2007 and 2008.
, but his demands for a high-dollar contract caused several teams to pass on him. The Texas Rangers selected Smoak with the eleventh overall pick, leading USA Today
to comment that "getting Smoak at No. 11 may be the best value pick of the first round."
Smoak was touted, early and often, by scouts as one of the best defensive first basemen in the 2008 draft. Some scouts compared Smoak to fellow switch hitters Mark Teixeira
and Chipper Jones
. Baseball America wrote that, as a first baseman, Smoak had "Gold Glove-caliber actions and soft hands", as well as "advanced footwork and instincts at first base", though they wrote that he had merely adequate arm strength. Nonetheless, several scouting reports wrote that Smoak's biggest strength was his ability to hit for both power and average on both sides of the plate.
.
Smoak began play in the 2009 season for the Class AA Frisco RoughRiders
. He was promoted on July 8, 2009 to the Class AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks. Smoak entered 2010 ranked among the best prospects in baseball.
Smoak was called up by the Rangers on April 22 and made his Major League debut the following evening in a game against the Detroit Tigers
.
He recorded his first hit on April 26, 2010 against the Tigers. Smoak set a franchise record by drawing at least one walk in each of his first 4 games. Smoak got his first Major League home run against the White Sox on April 29 off Gavin Floyd
and hit his first home run while batting right-handed on May 3, against Oakland off Jerry Blevins
.
On June 13, 2010, playing in Milwaukee, Smoak became the first player in Rangers history to strike out
five times in a nine-inning game.
with prospects Blake Beavan
, Josh Lueke
and Matt Lawson for Cliff Lee
and Mark Lowe
. Smoak was sent down to AAA Tacoma on July 31, 2010. He returned to the Mariners on September 18 and batted .340 with three home runs in the final 14 games of his rookie season. Former Seattle Sonics announcer Kevin Calabro
gave him the nickname "The Freak From Goose Creek
".
in the Cape Cod Baseball League
. He led all hitters with 11 home runs, a .565 slugging percentage, and 21 extra-base hits, en route to the MVP award.
In the summer of 2007, Smoak was a representative for Team USA
. During the 2007 Pan American Games, Smoak struggled, hitting .190 for the tournament. He won a silver medal there, when his team lost to Cuba
in the finals. Later, he competed with Team USA again in the 2007 World Port Tournament. However, he didn't fare much better, as he finished with a .208 average, although he did lead the tournament with three doubles. In all, Smoak hit .223 and had a .380 slugging percentage for Team USA over the summer.
In , Smoak again represented his country in the IBAF Baseball World Cup. Smoak hit nine home runs and drove in 22 runs, and was named to the 2009 IBAF World Cup All-Tournament Team along with fellow Team USA players Terry Tiffee
and Jon Weber. He was also named the 2009 Baseball World Cup
's Most Valuable Player.
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
) is an American Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
.
High school career
Smoak graduated from Stratford High SchoolStratford High School (Goose Creek, South Carolina)
Stratford High School is a high school located in Goose Creek, South Carolina.Stratford serves grades 9 through 12, and is a part of the Berkeley County School District. Stratford High School was originally built in 1981 and opened in 1983 with approximately 1100 students. An addition was added in...
in 2005. Smoak played four years of varsity high school baseball under coach John Chalus. It wasn't until his junior year in high school that scouts began to notice his talent because they were originally scouting his teammate and friend, Matt Wieters
Matt Wieters
Matthew Richard Wieters is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Wieters was drafted 5th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Wieters played college baseball for Georgia Tech, and his agent is Scott Boras. Wieters is a tall athletic hitter, standing 6 feet...
. However, Smoak soon made his presence known among scouts. He was named by ABCA, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, and Collegiate Baseball as a 2005 high school All-American. He was also one of 36 high school players in the nation to play in the 2005 high school All-American baseball game, named South Carolina AAAA Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, named co-Mr. Baseball for 2005 in South Carolina (alongside Gamecock teammate Reese Havens), made the 2004 and 2005 South Carolina AAAA All-State team, and a member of the 2005 South Carolina AAAA state championship team while with the Stratford Knights. He was initially drafted by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as a sixteenth-round pick in 2005 upon graduation, but deferred and went to the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
.
College career
Smoak went on to play college baseball for the South Carolina GamecocksSouth Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
. In his three years playing for South Carolina, Smoak consistently put up big numbers. After batting .303 with 17 home runs and 63 RBI, Smoak earned Freshman All-American honors. He followed up with a .315 batting average, 22 home runs, and 72 RBI in his sophomore year, good enough to be tabbed as a third-team All-American. For his junior year, Smoak batted .383, with 23 home runs and 72 RBI. Smoak is South Carolina's all-time home run king with 62, breaking Hank Small
Hank Small (baseball)
George Henry Small was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Atlanta Braves during the season. Listed at 6' 3", 205 lb., Small batted and threw right-handed...
's record of 48, which stood for over 30 years. Smoak is also South Carolina's career leader in RBIs and walks.
Smoak had also been named a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
in 2007 and 2008.
MLB Draft
Smoak was generally considered one of the top five players in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
, but his demands for a high-dollar contract caused several teams to pass on him. The Texas Rangers selected Smoak with the eleventh overall pick, leading USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
to comment that "getting Smoak at No. 11 may be the best value pick of the first round."
Smoak was touted, early and often, by scouts as one of the best defensive first basemen in the 2008 draft. Some scouts compared Smoak to fellow switch hitters Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira
Mark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
and Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
. Baseball America wrote that, as a first baseman, Smoak had "Gold Glove-caliber actions and soft hands", as well as "advanced footwork and instincts at first base", though they wrote that he had merely adequate arm strength. Nonetheless, several scouting reports wrote that Smoak's biggest strength was his ability to hit for both power and average on both sides of the plate.
Texas Rangers
Smoak did not sign a professional contract until fifteen minutes before MLB's deadline for teams to sign draft picks. The Rangers gave Smoak a $3.5 million signing bonus and assigned him to one of their Class-A affiliates, the Clinton LumberkingsClinton LumberKings
The Clinton LumberKings are a Midwest League Class A minor league baseball team based in Clinton, Iowa, USA, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners.-History:Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1954 and is the oldest franchise in the league...
.
Smoak began play in the 2009 season for the Class AA Frisco RoughRiders
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
. He was promoted on July 8, 2009 to the Class AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks. Smoak entered 2010 ranked among the best prospects in baseball.
Smoak was called up by the Rangers on April 22 and made his Major League debut the following evening in a game against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
He recorded his first hit on April 26, 2010 against the Tigers. Smoak set a franchise record by drawing at least one walk in each of his first 4 games. Smoak got his first Major League home run against the White Sox on April 29 off Gavin Floyd
Gavin Floyd
Gavin Christopher Floyd is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He stands 6' 5" tall, weighs 220 pounds, and throws and bats right-handed.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
and hit his first home run while batting right-handed on May 3, against Oakland off Jerry Blevins
Jerry Blevins
Jerry Richard Blevins is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-College baseball career:...
.
On June 13, 2010, playing in Milwaukee, Smoak became the first player in Rangers history to strike out
Strike Out
Strike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
five times in a nine-inning game.
Seattle Mariners
On July 9, Smoak was traded to the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
with prospects Blake Beavan
Blake Beavan
Blake Beavan is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.-Professional:Beavan drafted from Irving High School in the 1st round, 17th overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft...
, Josh Lueke
Josh Lueke
Joshua William Lueke is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:Lueke was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft...
and Matt Lawson for Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
and Mark Lowe
Mark Lowe
Mark Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers. He made his Major League debut for the Seattle Mariners on July 7, in relief against the Detroit Tigers, loading the bases before striking out the side. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. His fastball...
. Smoak was sent down to AAA Tacoma on July 31, 2010. He returned to the Mariners on September 18 and batted .340 with three home runs in the final 14 games of his rookie season. Former Seattle Sonics announcer Kevin Calabro
Kevin Calabro
Kevin Calabro is an American play-by-play announcer and talk show host for 710 ESPN Seattle. The Kevin Calabro Show airs from 3-6p PT and features cohost and Seattle P-I columnist Jim Moore, as well as ESPN Senior NFL Writer and Analyst John Clayton...
gave him the nickname "The Freak From Goose Creek
Goose Creek, South Carolina
Goose Creek is a city in Berkeley county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 35,938 at the 2010 census. Most of the Naval Weapons Station Charleston is in Goose Creek. As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S...
".
Cape Cod League and Team USA stints
In the summer of 2006, Smoak played for the Cotuit KettleersCotuit Kettleers
The Cotuit Kettleers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in the village of Cotuit, which is in the southwest corner of the town of Barnstable. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Cotuit currently plays its home games at Lowell Park...
in the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
. He led all hitters with 11 home runs, a .565 slugging percentage, and 21 extra-base hits, en route to the MVP award.
In the summer of 2007, Smoak was a representative for Team USA
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
. During the 2007 Pan American Games, Smoak struggled, hitting .190 for the tournament. He won a silver medal there, when his team lost to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in the finals. Later, he competed with Team USA again in the 2007 World Port Tournament. However, he didn't fare much better, as he finished with a .208 average, although he did lead the tournament with three doubles. In all, Smoak hit .223 and had a .380 slugging percentage for Team USA over the summer.
In , Smoak again represented his country in the IBAF Baseball World Cup. Smoak hit nine home runs and drove in 22 runs, and was named to the 2009 IBAF World Cup All-Tournament Team along with fellow Team USA players Terry Tiffee
Terry Tiffee
Terry Ronald Tiffee is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.-Career:Tiffee graduated from Sylvan Hills High School in and Pratt Community College in...
and Jon Weber. He was also named the 2009 Baseball World Cup
2009 Baseball World Cup
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country...
's Most Valuable Player.