Joseph Michael Smith is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He has previously played for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners in the Major League Baseball (MLB).
Smith played college baseball at Wright State University and was picked by the Mets in the third round of the 2006 MLB draft. He debuted in the main leagues in 2007.
Smith was a three-year varsity letterman at Amelia High School and was named to the Division I All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference team.
He also threw for the select American Amateur Baseball Congress Midland squad in Cincinnati for five years. Despite his labrum surgery, he was adamant about returning to baseball.
He redshirted and played three years in the Horizon League while at Wright State University. After adjusting his delivery, Smith became Wright State’s closer during his junior and senior years, gaining 4–6 mph on his fastball.
In his senior year, he recorded 13 saves and a 0.98 ERA. Smith had 22 saves, 145 strikeouts, and 39 walks across three seasons.
He was named WSU’s team MVP in 2005, and he was named second-team All-Mideast Region, first-team Horizon League, Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, and WSU’s Most Valuable Male Athlete in 2006.
What Happened To Joe Smith?
After returning to Ohio to spend time with his mother, who was in the terminal stages of Huntington’s disease, Smith sacrificed his $4 million contract for the shorter 60-game 2020 season.