Justin Smoak, First Base


Date of Birth: 12/5/1986
Birthplace: Goose Creek, South Carolina
College: University of South Carolina

Justin Smoak, first baseman, was first drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2008. He played for two seasons in the minor leagues before being called up to the Rangers in 2010. On July 9, 2010, after playing in 70 games with the Rangers, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners sent him back to the minor leagues until mid-September. He then played in 30 games with Seattle.

In 2011, his first full season in the major leagues, Smoak played in 123 games with the Mariners and he batted .234. The following year, he batted just .217 in 132 games. In 2013, he batted .238 with 108 hits, 19 doubles, and 20 home runs in 131 games. He finished the 2014 season with 50 hits and a .202 batting average in 80 games.

On October 28, 2014, Smoak was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blue Jays on December 3, 2014.

Smoak hit his first career grand slam on August 8, 2015. He finished the 2015 season with 67 hits, 18 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .226 batting average in 132 games. As a first baseman in 110 games, he made 44 assists, 74 double plays, 666 putouts, and 4 errors. He had no hits in eight at-bats in eight postseason games.

Smoak signed a new one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Blue Jays on December 2, 2015. He finished the 2016 season with 65 hits, 14 home runs, and a .217 batting average in 126 games. Defensively, as the Blue Jays' first baseman in 111 games, he made 38 assists, 69 double plays, 753 putouts, and 3 errors. In 3 postseason games, he had no hits and 2 strikeouts in 2 at-bats.

In 2017, Smoak had career highs in games played (158), hits (151), doubles (29), home runs (38), RBIs (90), and batting average (.270) in 158 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 151 games, he made 66 assists, 127 double plays, 1,244 putouts, and 2 errors.

Smoak finished the 2018 season with 122 hits, 34 doubles, 25 home runs, 77 RBIs, 156 strikeouts to 83 walks, and a .242 batting average in 147 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 134 games, he made 39 assists, 98 double plays, 1,036 putouts, and 1 error.

Smoak spent time on the DL in 2019 with a left quad strain. He finished the season with 86 hits, 16 doubles, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs, 106 strikeouts to 79 walks, and a .208 batting average in 121 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 89 games, he made 42 assists, 64 double plays, 686 putouts, and 4 errors.

Smoak became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 20, 2019. He was released by the Brewers on September 6, 2020. Three days later, he signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants released him on September 22nd. He finished the season with 21 hits and a .176 batting average in 33 games with the Brewers and 3 games with the Giants. Defensively, he played 31 games at first base.

Smoak played in Japan in 2021.

Career batting statistics for Smoak through 2020 include:

  • 1,286 games played
  • 951 hits
  • 196 doubles
  • 196 home runs
  • 570 RBIs
  • 1,122 strikeouts to 552 walks
  • .229 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Smoak at first base through 2020 include:

  • 1,163 games played
  • 510 assists
  • 896 double plays
  • 8,972 putouts
  • 39 errors
  • .996 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Smoak and his wife Kristen were married in November, 2010. They have one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Justin Smoak
ESPN - Justin Smoak