AJ Smith-Shawver explained

AJ Smith-Shawver
Width:250
Team:Atlanta Braves
Number:32
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:20 November 2002
Birth Place:Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:June 4
Debutyear:2023
Debutteam:Atlanta Braves
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2024 season
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:1–0
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.64
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:24
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

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

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Atlanta Braves selected Smith-Shawver in the seventh round of the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[4] He signed with the team, foregoing his commitment to Texas Tech, and received an over-slot signing bonus of $997,500.[5] 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.[6] [7] While pitching in the FCL and for the GreenJackets, Smith-Shawver focused on developing a slider.[8]

The following year, Smith-Shawver began the season with the Rome Braves.[9] [10] At the High-A level, he made three starts, threw fourteen scoreless innings with four walks and 23 strikeouts, while yielding six hits.[11] On May 2, Smith-Shawver was promoted to the Mississippi Braves.[12] He allowed five hits in seven scoreless innings over two appearances at the Double-A level,[13] then made his Triple-A debut with the Gwinnett Stripers on May 19, yielding his first earned runs on the 2023 season.[14] [15] [16]

Atlanta Braves

On May 30, 2023, the Braves selected Smith-Shawver's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[17] [18] He faced the Arizona Diamondbacks in his major league debut on June 4, pitching innings of relief while recording three strikeouts and one walk.[19] [20] Smith-Shawver made his first start against the Washington Nationals on June 9,[21] yielding two unearned runs on three hits in innings.[22] On June 15, Smith-Shawver earned his first win, giving up six hits and one walk with six strikeouts in innings against the Colorado Rockies.[23] He became the youngest Braves pitcher to win a game since Steve Avery on August 24, 1990.[24] 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.[25]

Smith-Shawver was invited to spring training before the 2024 regular season began,[26] but did not make the club and was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.[27]

Personal life

AJ Smith was raised by his mother Laurie and stepfather Jason. He added Shawver to his surname while in high school.[28]

Notes and References

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

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