Jake Smolinski, Outfield

Date of Birth: 2/9/1989
Birthplace: Rockford, Illinois

Jake Smolinski, outfielder, was first drafted in 2007 by the Washington Nationals. After two seasons in the Nationals' minor league system, he was traded to the Miami Marlins. He played with the Marlins' minor league teams through 2012. In November, 2013, he signed with the Texas Rangers.

As a minor league player from 2007 through part of 2014, Smolinksi had 673 hits, 165 doubles, 285 RBIs, and 443 strikeouts to 335 walks in 720 games. Defensively, he played all fielding positions except for shortstop. He was primarily a left fielder (390 games) and a third baseman (141 games).

Smolinski joined the Rangers for 24 games in 2014. During that time, he had 30 hits, three of which were home runs and two were doubles, for a batting average of .349.

Smolinski was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on June 21, 2015. He finished the 2015 season with a .193 batting average and 32 hits in 35 games with the Rangers and 41 games with the Athletics. Defensively, he played 52 games in left field and 16 games in right field. He made 89 putouts with no errors.

In 2016, Smolinski batted .238 in 99 games. He finished the season with 69 hits and 27 RBIs. Defensively, he played 18 games in left field, 49 games in center field, and 29 games in right field.

Smolinski spent most of the 2017 season on the DL, playing in just 16 games with the Athletics. He was again on the DL in 2018 with a blood clot in his left calf. He played in 19 games with the Athletics and in 36 games in the minors.

Smolinski became a free agent on October 15, 2018. He signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on November 7, 2018. He played in the minors in 2019, until he was released on July 2nd. He then played in the Korean Baseball Organization for the rest of the season.

Smolinski hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jake Smolinski
ESPN - Jake Smolinski
Baseball Reference - Jake Smolinski