Canaan Smith-Njigba

Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Canaan Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 28
Outfielder
Born: (1999-04-30) April 30, 1999
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 14, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through April 19, 2023)
Batting average.143
Home runs0
Runs batted in5
Teams

Amateur career

Smith-Njigba attended Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas, where he played baseball.[1] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.[2] During his senior year, he garnered attention after he was intentionally walked 32 times in 24 games, or a rate of 1.33 per game.[3] After his senior season, he was selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

Professional career

New York Yankees organization

After signing with the Yankees, Smith-Njigba made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Yankees, slashing .289/.430/.422 with five home runs and 28 RBIs over 57 games. In 2018, he played with the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League where he hit .191 with three home runs and 16 RBIs over 45 games, missing time due to injury. In 2019, he played for the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League, with whom he earned All-Star honors.[4] Over 124 games, he batted .307/.405/.465 with 11 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.[5] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 24, 2021, the Yankees traded Smith-Njigba (alongside Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras and Maikol Escotto) to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jameson Taillon.[7] He was assigned to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Northeast for a majority of the 2021 season.[8] He was placed on the injured list briefly at the end of July, but activated in early August.[9] He was placed back on the injured list in mid-August with a thigh injury, but was activated one month later.[10] Over 66 games, he hit .274/.398/.406 with six home runs, 40 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.[11] Following the end of Altoona's season in mid-September, he was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A East with whom he appeared in seven games.[12] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Javelinas after the season.[13] On November 19, 2021, the Pirates selected his contract and added him to their 40-man roster.[14] He returned to the Indians to begin the 2022 season.[15]

On June 13, 2022, the Pirates promoted Smith-Njigba to the major leagues.[16] He registered his first major league hit the next night while pinch-hitting and recorded a double off of St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Giovanny Gallegos.[17] On June 17, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a wrist fracture.[18]

Personal life

Smith-Njigba is the older brother of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.[19] Smith-Njigba's grandparents are from Sierra Leone.[20]

References
  1. Your Name Here (October 26, 2016). "Canaan Smith, Sr, C/1B/OF, Rockwall Heath | Texas Highschool Baseball". Txhighschoolbaseball.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. "Canaan Smith Class of 2017 – Player Profile | Perfect Game USA".
  3. "Baseball thoughts: This week's mammoth matchups, and the area player who's walking at a higher rate than Barry Bonds". Dallas News. April 4, 2017.
  4. Evening Post Books – Charleston, SC. "Seven RiverDogs selected to South Atlantic League All-Star Game | Sports". postandcourier.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  5. Cunningham, Daniel (April 17, 2020). "New York Yankees Prospects: Canaan Smith". Empiresportsmedia.com. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  6. "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  7. "Yankees land RHP Taillon in trade with Pirates". ESPN.com. January 24, 2021.
  8. Tribune-Democrat, The. "Curve roster for 2021 season loaded with top Pirates prospects". The Tribune-Democrat.
  9. "Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Back from IL". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  10. "Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Out with thigh injury". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  11. Williams, Tim (September 13, 2021). "Canaan Smith-Njigba Sets His Offseason Plan". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  12. "Sources: Pirates making several promotions to Class AAA Indianapolis | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette".
  13. "Arizona Fall League rosters 2021 prospect loaded". MLB.com.
  14. "Pirates add four to 40-man roster, designate Michael Perez for assignment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette".
  15. "Pirates No. 1 Prospect, Oneil Cruz, Headlines Indy's Opening Day Roster".
  16. "Patient approach produces long-awaited MLB shot for Pirates prospect Canaan Smith-Njigba".
  17. "Canaan Smith-Njigba, brother of Ohio State star WR, records first MLB hit for Pittsburgh Pirates". 247sports.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  18. "Pirates place OF Canaan Smith-Njigba on 60-day IL, call up LHP Cam Vieaux". June 17, 2022.
  19. Mackey, Jason. "Pirates prospect Canaan Smith-Njigba full of patience, potential". Pittsburgh Post–Gazette.
  20. Carpenter, Zack (April 25, 2020). "Ohio State's Impactful Nigerian Connections, Relationship with Greg Mattison and Eye-Opening June Visit Were Driving Forces in Tunmise Adeleye's Recruitment". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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