AJ_Smith-Shawver

AJ Smith-Shawver

AJ Smith-Shawver

American baseball player (born 2002)

AJ Smith-Shawver (born November 20, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Quick Facts Atlanta Braves – No. 32, MLB debut ...

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 stopped pitching to focus on football,[2] and was named All-Area by the Dallas Morning News as a third baseman after batting .344 with 20 RBIs.[3] Smith-Shawver committed to play both college baseball and college football at Texas Tech University.[4]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Atlanta Braves selected Smith-Shawver in the seventh round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He signed with the team, foregoing his commitment to Texas Tech, and received an over-slot signing bonus of $997,500.[6][7] 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.[8][9] While pitching in the FCL and for the GreenJackets, Smith-Shawver focused on developing a slider.[10]

The following year, Smith-Shawver began the season with the Rome Braves.[11][12] At the High-A level, he made three starts, threw fourteen scoreless innings with four walks and 23 strikeouts, while yielding six hits.[13] On May 2, Smith-Shawver was promoted to the Mississippi Braves.[14] He allowed five hits in seven scoreless innings over two appearances at the Double-A level,[15] then made his Triple-A debut with the Gwinnett Stripers on May 19, yielding his first earned runs on the 2023 season.[7][16][17]

Atlanta Braves

On May 30, 2023, the Braves selected Smith-Shawver's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[18][19] 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.[20][21] Smith-Shawver made his first start against the Washington Nationals on June 9,[22] yielding two unearned runs on three hits in 5+1⁄3 innings.[2][23] On June 15, Smith-Shawver earned his first win, giving up six hits and one walk with six strikeouts in 5+2⁄3 innings against the Colorado Rockies.[24] He became the youngest Braves pitcher to win a game since Steve Avery on August 24, 1990.[25] On June 26, Shawver was optioned back down to Gwinnett to make room on the roster for the Braves to promote relief pitcher Dereck Rodriguez.[26]

Smith-Shawver was invited to spring training before the 2024 regular season began,[27] but did not make the club and was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.[28]

Personal life

AJ Smith was raised by his mother Laurie and stepfather Jason. He added Shawver to his surname while in high school.[2]

References

  1. [1]
    Jennings, Randy (October 30, 2020). "He's the best-kept secret in the state': AJ Smith-Shawver's huge day powers Colleyville Heritage past Midlothian". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  2. [2]
    Bowman, Mark (June 9, 2023). "'Wow, we're here': Smith-Shawver shines in first MLB start". MLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. [3]
    "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.
  4. [4]
    "Texas Tech baseball signee Cameron Cauley picked by Texas Rangers". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. July 12, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. [5]
    "Several Fort Worth-area players selected in 2021 MLB Draft". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 14, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. [6]
    Bowman, Mark (July 20, 2021). "Braves sign Smith-Shawver, Collins, Malloy". MLB.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  7. [7]
    Bowman, Mark (May 21, 2023). "Only 20 years young, Smith-Shawver reaches Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  8. [8]
    Powers, Matt (December 3, 2022). "Atlanta Braves 2022 Minor League Player Review: AJ Smith-Shawver". BatteryPower.com. SB Nation. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Atlanta Braves Announce GreenJackets Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022. Alternate URL
  10. [10]
    Toscano, Justin (June 4, 2023). "How AJ Smith-Shawver developed slider to be a well-rounded pitcher". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  11. [11]
    Franklin, Justin (April 5, 2023). "Rome Braves Release 2023 Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  12. [12]
    "ROME BRAVES RELEASE 2023 OPENING DAY ROSTER". Coosa Valley News. April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  13. [13]
    Bowman, Mark (May 1, 2023). "This Braves prospect is having early success". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Atlanta Braves promote No. 4 prospect Smith-Shawver to Mississippi". MILB.com. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  15. [15]
    Toscano, Justin (May 16, 2023). "Braves promote top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  16. [16]
    "Braves prospect A.J. Smith-Shawver debuts in Gwinnett Stripers win". Gwinnett Daily Post. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  17. [17]
    "Braves prospect AJ Smith-Shawver makes Triple-A debut". Atlanta Journal Constitution. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  18. [18]
    Chen, Sonja (May 30, 2023). "Braves dip into prospect well again, call up No. 4 Smith-Shawver". MLB.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  19. [19]
    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.
  20. [20]
    Bowman, Mark (June 4, 2023). "No. 4 prospect's strong debut sets up veteran's clutch slam". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  21. [21]
    Toscano, Justin (June 4, 2023). "'Just trying to breathe:' Braves ' AJ Smith-Shawver has successful MLB debut". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  22. [22]
    Bowman, Mark (June 9, 2023). "Smith-Shawver has taken fast track to Braves rotation". MLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  23. [23]
    "Arcia drives in go-ahead run, Braves beat Nationals 3-2 in another comeback". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  24. [24]
    "Ozzie Albies, AJ Smith-Shawver lead the Braves to an 8-3 win over the Rockies". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  25. [25]
    Bowman, Mark (June 15, 2023). "Smith-Shawver earns his first MLB win ... at age 20". MLB.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  26. [26]
    Burns, ga (June 26, 2023). "Braves option AJ Smith-Shawver, Michael Soroka could return". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  27. [27]
    "Youthful gamble paying off for Smith-Shawver". MLB.com. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  28. [28]
    "Braves option top pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver to AAA". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
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