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AJ Smith-Shawver

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AJ Smith-Shawver
Smith-Shawver with the Gwinnett Stripers in 2024
Atlanta Braves – No. 32
Pitcher
Born: (2002-11-20) November 20, 2002 (age 22)
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 4, 2023, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average3.64
Strikeouts24
Teams

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.

Amateur career

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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

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Draft and minor leagues

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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

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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

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

References

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  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. ^ a b c Bowman, Mark (June 9, 2023). "'Wow, we're here': Smith-Shawver shines in first MLB start". MLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  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. ^ Silva Jr., Carlos (July 12, 2021). "Texas Tech baseball signee Cameron Cauley picked by Texas Rangers". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Gosset, Brian (July 14, 2021). "Several Fort Worth-area players selected in 2021 MLB Draft". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Bowman, Mark (July 20, 2021). "Braves sign Smith-Shawver, Collins, Malloy". MLB.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Bowman, Mark (May 21, 2023). "Only 20 years young, Smith-Shawver reaches Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  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. ^ "Atlanta Braves Announce GreenJackets Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. April 4, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022. Alternate URL
  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. ^ Franklin, Justin (April 5, 2023). "Rome Braves Release 2023 Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "ROME BRAVES RELEASE 2023 OPENING DAY ROSTER". Coosa Valley News. April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Bowman, Mark (May 1, 2023). "This Braves prospect is having early success". MLB.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Atlanta Braves promote No. 4 prospect Smith-Shawver to Mississippi". MILB.com. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Toscano, Justin (May 16, 2023). "Braves promote top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Braves prospect A.J. Smith-Shawver debuts in Gwinnett Stripers win". Gwinnett Daily Post. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Braves prospect AJ Smith-Shawver makes Triple-A debut". Atlanta Journal Constitution. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  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. ^ 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. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 4, 2023). "No. 4 prospect's strong debut sets up veteran's clutch slam". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  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. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 9, 2023). "Smith-Shawver has taken fast track to Braves rotation". MLB.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  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. ^ "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. ^ Bowman, Mark (June 15, 2023). "Smith-Shawver earns his first MLB win ... at age 20". MLB.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  26. ^ Burns, ga (June 26, 2023). "Braves option AJ Smith-Shawver, Michael Soroka could return". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  27. ^ "Youthful gamble paying off for Smith-Shawver". MLB.com. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  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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