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Seth Smith
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Garry Seth Smith (born September 30, 1982) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles. He was the Rockies' 2nd round pick in the 2004 MLB draft.
Key Information
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Amateur career
[edit]Smith attended Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson, Mississippi,[1] and the University of Mississippi. He played college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team from 2002 through 2004, and was also a backup quarterback to Eli Manning on the Ole Miss Rebels football team.[2] During his freshman year, Smith batted .402 and was named a Freshman All-American. Smith also played for the USA National Team in the Pan-Am games while at Ole Miss.[3]
Professional career
[edit]Colorado Rockies
[edit]
Smith made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies on September 16, 2007,[4] in a 13–0 home win over the Florida Marlins.[5] He did not record a hit in two total at bats during the game. He got his first hit, an infield single, on September 21, 2007, in a 2–1 extra-innings road win over the San Diego Padres.[4][6] His hit came off of Doug Brocail in the top of the 12th inning. Smith played in seven games during the regular season, racking up five hits in eight at bats.
Smith's successful stint during the regular season earned him a spot on the Rockies' 2007 postseason roster. In the 2007 National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, Smith had one pinch hit in two at bats. His lone hit came in the second game of the series in a 10–5 win against the Phillies. It was an infield hit in the top of the fourth inning that loaded the bases with the Rockies down, 3–2. The next batter, Colorado second baseman Kazuo Matsui, went on to hit a memorable grand slam to give the Rockies a lead that they would never relinquish. Colorado went on to sweep the Phillies in three games and then went on to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks in four games in the 2007 National League Championship Series. Once again, Smith had one pinch hit in two at bats. The one hit was in the fourth game of the series in a 6–4 series-clinching win against the Diamondbacks. This time, Smith hit a double that came with two outs and two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Rockies down, 1–0. The double drove in both runners to give Colorado a 2–1 lead. Smith then went on to score during the inning after a Matsui single. Colorado left fielder Matt Holliday also hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning to cap off a six-run fourth inning, all with two outs.
Smith was the final out in the 2007 World Series, striking out against Boston Red Sox's closer Jonathan Papelbon. In that postseason Smith excelled, hitting above .500.
Smith hit his first career home run, a three-run shot, on May 25, 2008, in a 4–1 home win over the New York Mets.[7] He hit the home run off of John Maine in the bottom of the fourth inning. Smith also hit his first career inside the park home run that season, which was the eighth in Colorado Rockies history.
Oakland Athletics
[edit]On January 16, 2012, the Rockies traded Smith to the Oakland Athletics for Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman.[8] Due to his severe splits between facing right handed and left handed pitching, Smith platooned in his two seasons in Oakland. He hit .246 with 22 home runs for the A's between 2012 and 2013. During game 4 of the 2012 ALDS, Smith hit a game tying double in the bottom of the 9th against the Detroit Tigers.[9]
San Diego Padres
[edit]On December 3, 2013, Smith was traded to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Luke Gregerson.[10] On March 30, 2014, Smith hit a home run against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brian Wilson in his first at-bat as a Padre.[11] On July 2, 2014, he signed a two-year, $13 million extension.[12] Smith finished the season batting .266 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs. He led the Padres in batting average (.266), OBP (.367) and hits (118), as well as doubles, triples and walks.[13] During the 2014–15 offseason, the Padres traded for a trio of outfielders in Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and Justin Upton, leaving Smith open to be traded.
Seattle Mariners
[edit]On December 30, 2014, the Padres traded Smith to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Brandon Maurer.[14] In his first full season in Seattle, Smith hit .248 with 12 home runs while platooning for the majority of the season with Franklin Gutierrez.
Baltimore Orioles
[edit]On January 6, 2017, the Mariners traded Smith to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Yovani Gallardo.[15] In 111 games for the Orioles, Smith slashed .258/.340/.433 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI. He elected free agency on November 2.
References
[edit]- ^ "Seth Smith Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ Korsick, Lindsey (July 26, 2007). "Player Profile - Seth Smith". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ "Smith, Head Look To Seek Gold With Team USA At Pan American Games". Ole Miss Athletics. July 29, 2003. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Seth Smith Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ "Helton's 300th career HR helps Rockies rip Marlins". ESPN. Associated Press. September 16, 2007. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016.
- ^ ESPN – Rockies vs. Padres – Recap – September 21, 2007[dead link]
- ^ "Cook's CG, Smith's HR tops Mets; Randolph, Wilpons to meet Monday". ESPN. Associated Press. May 25, 2008. Archived from the original on November 17, 2017.
- ^ Rockies Press Release (January 16, 2012). "Rockies acquire RHP Guillermo Moscoso and LHP Josh Outman from Oakland in exchange for OF Seth Smith". ColoradoRockies.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.
- ^ "Valverde, Tigers stunned by A's in ninth". MLB.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ^ "Padres acquire OF Seth Smith". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 3, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "Chris Denorfia's two-run single lifts Padres over Dodgers". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 30, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "Seth Smith signs $13 million deal with Padres". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
- ^ "2021 San Diego Padres Batting Stats". ESPN. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- ^ Crasnick, Jerry (December 30, 2014). "Mariners acquire Seth Smith". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ Johns, Greg (January 6, 2017). "Mariners acquire Gallardo from O's for Smith". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seth Smith.
- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
Seth Smith
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and amateur career
High school career
Seth Smith attended Hillcrest Christian School in Jackson, Mississippi, graduating in 2001 after enrolling in 1997.[1] During his high school years, he emerged as a multi-sport athlete, excelling in both baseball and football.[6] In baseball, Smith played as a standout outfielder for the Hillcrest Christian team, contributing to back-to-back Mississippi Private School Association state championships, in Class 3A in 1997 and Class 4A in 1998, as part of a program that won three consecutive titles from 1996 to 1998.[2][7] His performance helped establish the program's success during his early years, showcasing his potential as a left-handed hitter with strong defensive skills in the outfield.[2] Smith also demonstrated versatility in football, where he competed as both a quarterback and wide receiver, earning recognition for his athletic prowess across sports.[8] As a senior, he was named the Mississippi Private School Association 4A MVP, highlighting his leadership and impact on the field.[8] This multi-sport involvement underscored his early athletic development in Jackson. Following high school, Smith decided to prioritize baseball, influenced by recruitment offers from colleges including the University of Mississippi, where he committed to play for the Ole Miss Rebels.[6] Although he had signed letters of intent for both sports at Ole Miss, the emphasis on his baseball talent led him to focus exclusively on the diamond in college.[9]College baseball
Smith played college baseball for the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels from 2002 to 2004 after enrolling in 2001.[2] As a dual-sport athlete, he also walked on to the Rebels football team, serving as backup quarterback to Eli Manning over three seasons without recording any game statistics.[10] In his freshman season of 2002, Smith batted .402 with 4 home runs and 52 RBIs over 53 games, helping lead Ole Miss to a 31-25 record.[11] His performance earned him first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors, SEC Freshman of the Year, and second-team Freshman All-American recognition from Baseball America.[4][12] As a sophomore in 2003, Smith hit .333 with 5 home runs and 35 RBIs in 61 games, contributing to the team's 35-27 mark and appearance in the NCAA Houston Regional.[13][14] During his junior year in 2004, he posted a .284 average with 7 home runs and 40 RBIs across 60 games, once again helping Ole Miss advance to the NCAA Tournament in the Oxford Regional.[15][4] For his efforts that season, Smith received second-team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches.[4] Over his three-year collegiate career, Smith compiled a .338 batting average with 16 home runs and 127 RBIs in 174 games, finishing ninth in program history with 220 hits at the time of his departure.[4][2]International play
In 2003, following a standout sophomore season at the University of Mississippi, Seth Smith was selected to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team for the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[16] As a sophomore outfielder, Smith served as a key contributor in the outfield during the team's summer schedule, which included exhibition games against professional clubs and international squads prior to the tournament.[17] During the 2003 Team USA summer schedule, including the Pan American Games, Smith batted .322 with four home runs over 29 games, helping the team secure the silver medal after a 3-1 loss to Cuba in the final.[4] His performance in these high-profile international competitions provided valuable exposure against top amateur and professional talent, contributing to his rising draft profile. This visibility played a role in his selection by the Colorado Rockies in the second round (50th overall) of the 2004 MLB Draft.[2]Professional career
Colorado Rockies
Smith was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the second round (50th overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Mississippi.[2] He signed with the team shortly thereafter for a minor league contract that included a $690,000 signing bonus.[18] In his first full professional season, Smith hit .300 with 9 home runs and 72 RBIs for High-A Modesto in the California League.[3] He progressed to Double-A Tulsa in 2006, where he batted .294 with 15 home runs and 71 RBIs in the Texas League.[3] Promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs for 2007, he raised his average to .317, adding 17 home runs and 82 RBIs in the Pacific Coast League.[3] These performances earned him a September call-up to the major leagues. Smith made his MLB debut on September 16, 2007, as a pinch-hitter for the Rockies in a 13–0 win over the Florida Marlins at Coors Field, though he went 0-for-2.[1] He recorded his first major league hit—an infield single off Doug Brocail—on September 21 against the San Diego Padres. He recorded a key hit in the tiebreaker game against the Padres, pinch-hitting a triple in the sixth inning with the score tied at 5–5, then scoring the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Kaz Matsui to give the Rockies a 6–5 lead. Smith's clutch late-season play secured him a spot on the Rockies' postseason roster despite limited regular-season experience. In the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he delivered a pinch-hit double in Game 4 that scored two runs and sparked a six-run fourth inning, helping Colorado secure a 6–4 victory and sweep the series for their first pennant.[19] In the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, Smith appeared in Games 3 and 4 at Coors Field; in Game 3, he recorded a double among his contributions in a 10–5 loss. Over the next several seasons, Smith established himself as a versatile outfielder and platoon contributor for the Rockies. He hit his first major league home run—a three-run shot off John Maine—on May 25, 2008, in a 4–1 win over the New York Mets.[20] In 2010, he appeared in a career-high 133 games, batting .246 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs while splitting time between left and right field.[1] On January 16, 2012, the Rockies traded Smith to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitchers Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman.Oakland Athletics
On January 16, 2012, the Oakland Athletics acquired outfielder Seth Smith from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for pitchers Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman.[1] In his first season with the Athletics, Smith served primarily as a platoon outfielder, starting 56 games in left field and 13 in right field while also appearing as a designated hitter, due to his struggles against left-handed pitching.[1] He batted .240 with 14 home runs and 52 RBI over 125 games, contributing to Oakland's unexpected AL West division title and playoff appearance.[1][2] Smith played a pivotal role in the 2012 American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers, appearing in all five games. In Game 4 on October 10, he delivered a game-tying two-run double off closer José Valverde in the bottom of the ninth inning, setting the stage for Coco Crisp's walk-off single in a 4-3 victory that forced a decisive Game 5.[21][22] The Athletics ultimately lost the series, but Smith's postseason line of .133 with one home run and three RBI highlighted his clutch contribution during Oakland's dramatic playoff run.[22] Smith returned to the Athletics for the 2013 season on a one-year, $3.675 million contract, avoiding arbitration.[23] Continuing in a platoon role, he started 55 games as the designated hitter, 50 in left field, and eight in right field across 117 games.[1] His performance improved slightly to a .253 batting average with eight home runs and 40 RBI, though his power output declined compared to the previous year, aligning with the team's use of him mainly against right-handed pitchers.[1][2] On December 3, 2013, the Athletics traded Smith to the San Diego Padres in exchange for relief pitcher Luke Gregerson.[24]San Diego Padres
Smith was acquired by the San Diego Padres from the Oakland Athletics on December 3, 2013, in exchange for relief pitcher Luke Gregerson.[25] During the 2014 season, Smith's only full year with the Padres, he established himself as a key contributor in the outfield, appearing in 136 games while primarily platooning in left field and also starting 43 games in right field.[1] He posted a batting average of .266, along with 12 home runs and 48 runs batted in, while drawing 69 walks to achieve an on-base percentage of .367, which led the team.[1][26] Defensively, Smith logged 1,034.1 innings in the outfield with a .996 fielding percentage, and advanced metrics such as Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) rated his overall performance as average at -3 runs, with neutral arm strength at 0 runs above average.[1][27] On July 2, 2014, amid a strong first half that included a .354 batting average in May, Smith agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Padres valued at $13 million, which covered the 2015 and 2016 seasons and included a $7 million club option for 2017.[28][29] Following the Padres' acquisition of outfielders Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and Justin Upton in December 2014, which crowded the roster, Smith was traded to the Seattle Mariners on December 30, 2014, in exchange for relief pitcher Brandon Maurer.[2][30]Seattle Mariners
On December 30, 2014, the Seattle Mariners acquired outfielder Seth Smith from the San Diego Padres in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Brandon Maurer.[30] The trade included the remaining portion of Smith's two-year contract extension originally signed with the Padres in July 2014, which covered the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[31] During his two full seasons with the Mariners, Smith provided consistent left-handed production off the bench and in platoon roles. In 2015, he appeared in 136 games, primarily serving as the designated hitter (52 games) and in left field (70 games).[1] He batted .248 with 54 runs scored, 12 home runs, and 47 RBI, while posting an on-base percentage of .330 and a slugging percentage of .443.[2] Smith struggled with strikeouts, fanning 99 times in 395 at-bats, which contributed to a 25.1% strikeout rate for the year. He helped stabilize the Mariners' outfield and designated hitter positions amid a 76-86 season that fell short of playoff contention.[32] In 2016, under the pre-existing $6.75 million contract, Smith appeared in 137 games, primarily in right field (104 starts), batting .249 with 16 home runs and 63 RBIs, along with an OBP of .346 and SLG of .415, during an 86–76 season.[18][1]Baltimore Orioles
On January 6, 2017, the Baltimore Orioles acquired outfielder Seth Smith from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for right-handed pitcher Yovani Gallardo and cash considerations.[33][34] This trade came after Smith had spent the previous two seasons with the Mariners, where he provided veteran outfield depth.[1] In his only season with the Orioles, Smith appeared in 111 games, batting .258 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI.[1] He split his time primarily between right field (80 games), left field (12 games), and designated hitter (7 games), offering left-handed power against right-handed pitching while serving as a platoon option in the outfield.[1] Smith's final major league appearance came on September 30, 2017, in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays.[1] Following the 2017 season, Smith elected free agency on November 2, 2017.[35] He did not sign another major league contract thereafter, effectively retiring from professional baseball at age 35.[1]Playing style and career statistics
Playing style
Seth Smith was a left-handed batter known for his patient approach at the plate, drawing walks at a career rate of 10.2% across 4,084 plate appearances in Major League Baseball.[1] This discipline contributed to a solid on-base percentage of .344, allowing him to reach base consistently while setting the table for teammates.[1] He exhibited a pull-heavy hitting tendency, which helped maximize his power potential in favorable counts.[36] Among his strengths, Smith displayed above-average power against right-handed pitchers, posting a career .795 OPS in those matchups, bolstered by a .263 batting average and .349 on-base percentage.[1] His outfield arm was solid, evidenced by 43 career assists over approximately 6,700 innings in left and right field, including notable contributions in key seasons that prevented extra bases for opponents.[1] However, weaknesses included a strikeout rate of 19.8%, which occasionally led to unproductive at-bats, and limited speed, with an average sprint speed of 26.4 feet per second in his later years, placing him below league average for baserunning.[1][37] Smith's positional flexibility was a hallmark of his career, logging over 3,000 innings each in right field (2,943.2) and left field (3,735), with occasional stints in center field (46.1 innings) and as a designated hitter (156 games).[1] He evolved into a reliable platoon player, facing right-handers in over 80% of his plate appearances where he excelled, leveraging his handedness advantage to become a valuable matchup option across multiple teams.[38]Career statistics
Seth Smith played 1,249 games over 11 major league seasons from 2007 to 2017, compiling a .261 batting average, 126 home runs, 458 runs batted in, and a .344 on-base percentage.[1] His career on-base plus slugging (OPS) stood at .790, reflecting consistent production as a platoon outfielder.[2] Advanced metrics highlight his overall impact, with a career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 11.6 according to Baseball-Reference, where his strongest season came in 2014 with the San Diego Padres (3.4 WAR).[1] Key milestones include Smith's 100th career home run, hit on April 29, 2016, against the Kansas City Royals while with the Seattle Mariners.[2] The following table summarizes his year-by-year regular-season batting statistics:| Year | Team | G | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | COL | 7 | .625 | 0 | 0 | 1.500 |
| 2008 | COL | 67 | .259 | 4 | 15 | .785 |
| 2009 | COL | 133 | .293 | 15 | 55 | .888 |
| 2010 | COL | 133 | .246 | 17 | 52 | .783 |
| 2011 | COL | 147 | .284 | 15 | 59 | .830 |
| 2012 | OAK | 125 | .240 | 14 | 52 | .753 |
| 2013 | OAK | 117 | .253 | 8 | 40 | .720 |
| 2014 | SD | 136 | .266 | 12 | 48 | .807 |
| 2015 | SEA | 136 | .248 | 12 | 42 | .773 |
| 2016 | SEA | 137 | .249 | 16 | 63 | .757 |
| 2017 | BAL | 111 | .258 | 13 | 32 | .773 |