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AJ Smith-Shawver

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AJ Smith-Shawver
Atlanta Braves – No. 62
Pitcher
Born: (2002-11-20) November 20, 2002 (age 21)
Fort Worth, Texas
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 4, 2023, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through June 4, 2023)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average0.00
Strikeouts3

AJ Smith-Shawver (born November 20, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Smith-Shawver grew up in Colleyville, Texas and attended Colleyville Heritage High School, where he played baseball and football.[1] He was Colleyville Heritage's starting quarterback and passed for 2,616 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior. He was named All-Area by the Dallas Morning News as a third baseman after batting .344 with 20 RBIs.[2] Smith-Shawver committed to play both college baseball and college football at Texas Tech University.[3]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

Smith-Shawver was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the seventh round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft.[4] He signed with the team and received an over-slot signing bonus of $997,500.[5][6] After signing, Smith-Shawver was assigned to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Braves and made four appearances. He spent the 2022 season with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets.[7][8] While pitching in the FCL and for the Greenjackets, Smith-Shawver focused on developing a slider.[9]

The following year, Smith-Shawver began the season with the Rome Braves.[10][11] At the High-A level, he made three starts, threw fourteen scoreless innings with four walks and 23 strikeouts, while yielding six hits.[12] On May 2, Smith-Shawver was promoted to the Mississippi Braves.[13] He allowed five hits in seven scoreless innings over two appearances at the Double-A level,[14] then made his Triple-A debut with the Gwinnett Stripers on May 19, yielding his first earned runs on the 2023 season.[6][15][16]

Atlanta Braves

On May 30, 2023, the Atlanta Braves selected Smith-Shawver's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[17][18] He faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in his major league debut on June 4, pitching 2+1⁄3 innings of relief while recording three strikeouts and one walk.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ "He's the best-kept secret in the state': AJ Smith-Shawver's huge day powers Colleyville Heritage past Midlothian". Dallas Morning News. October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Area stars Creed Willems, AJ Smith-Shawver choose to start MLB careers over college". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 27, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Texas Tech baseball signee Cameron Cauley picked by Texas Rangers". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. July 12, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "Several Fort Worth-area players selected in 2021 MLB Draft". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 14, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Bowman, Mark (July 20, 2021). "Braves sign Smith-Shawver, Collins, Malloy". MLB.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Bowman, Mark (May 21, 2023). "Only 20 years young, Smith-Shawver reaches Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Powers, Matt (December 3, 2022). "Atlanta Braves 2022 Minor League Player Review: AJ Smith-Shawver". BatteryPower.com. SB Nation. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  8. ^ "Atlanta Braves Announce GreenJackets Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022. Alternate URL
  9. ^ Toscano, Justin (June 4, 2023). "How AJ Smith-Shawver developed slider to be a well-rounded pitcher". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Franklin, Justin (April 5, 2023). "Rome Braves Release 2023 Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "ROME BRAVES RELEASE 2023 OPENING DAY ROSTER". Coosa Valley News. April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Bowman, Mark (May 1, 2023). "This Braves prospect is having early success". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  13. ^ "Atlanta Braves promote No. 4 prospect Smith-Shawver to Mississippi". MILB.com. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Toscano, Justin (May 16, 2023). "Braves promote top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Braves prospect A.J. Smith-Shawver debuts in Gwinnett Stripers win". Gwinnett Daily Post. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Braves prospect AJ Smith-Shawver makes Triple-A debut". Atlanta Journal Constitution. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  17. ^ Chen, Sonja (May 30, 2023). "Braves dip into prospect well again, call up No. 4 Smith-Shawver". MLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Toscano, Justin (May 30, 2023). "Braves call up top pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver, who will begin in bullpen". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 4, 2023). "No. 4 prospect's strong debut sets up veteran's clutch slam". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  20. ^ Toscano, Justin (June 4, 2023). "'Just trying to breathe:' Braves ' AJ Smith-Shawver has successful MLB debut". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
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