Drew Smyly

Drew joins the Cubs in 2022 for his second stint in Chicago, after he spent the 2018 season on the Cubs' injured list while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery... Is 46-39 with a 4.18 ERA (389 ER/837.1 IP) and three saves over 217 career major league games (134 starts)... Has pitched in parts of eight major league seasons with Detroit (2012-14), Tampa Bay (2014-16), Texas (2019), Philadelphia (2019), San Francisco (2020) and Atlanta (2021)... Won his first World Series championship with Atlanta in 2021 ... was one of three Braves pitchers with 10-plus wins and one of four to start 20-plus games, going 11-4 with a 4.48 ERA (63 ER/126.2 IP)... Underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2017 ... would miss the rest of 2017 and the entire 2018 season while rehabbing... Set career highs in starts (30), innings (175.1) and strikeouts (167) with Tampa Bay in 2016... Has been traded three times in his career, including as a part of the five-player, three-team deal that sent David Price from Tampa Bay to Detroit in July 2014... Was selected in the second round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft by Detroit... Pitched three seasons at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville... Went 9-1 with a 2.80 ERA and 114 strikeouts as a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2010... Is a 2007 graduate of Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas.
2021
Drew won his first career World Series championship in 2021 with Atlanta, going 11-4 with a 4.48 ERA (63 ER/126.2 IP) in 29 games (23 starts) during the regular season... Appeared in three postseason games, including two in the World Series, going 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA (5 ER/7.1 IP)... Was one of three Braves pitchers with 10-plus wins and one of four with 20-plus starts... Posted a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) in his six relief outings... Held opponents to a .222 average (38-for-171) in his 10 games at Truist Field... Posted a 3.61 ERA (21 ER/52.1 IP) and a 4-0 record in 12 games (10 starts) against N.L. East opponents... Went 5-0 with a 3.08 ERA (17 ER/492. IP) and did not allow more than three runs in any of his 10 starts in June and July... Earned his second career postseason victory in Game 4 of the NLCS vs. the Dodgers (2 ER/3.1 IP).

2020
Pitched in seven games and made five starts for San Francisco, going 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA (10 ER/26.1 IP) and 42 strikeouts…Allowed opponents to bat just .198 (20-for-101) and struck out 38% of batters he faced...Established career bests in opposing average (.198), OBP (.261), slugging (.297), OPS (.558), strikeouts-per-nine (14.35) and strikeout percentage (37.8)...His 1.10 WHIP was his lowest since the 2013 season with Detroit (1.04), while his 3.42 ERA was his best since 2015 with Tampa Bay (3.11)...Missed 35 games with a left index finger sprain… Was placed on the injured list August 2 and was reinstated on September 10...Led San Francisco in strikeouts per nine (14.35) and percentage of pitches put in play (12.4)...The Giants won four of his five starts...Smyly struck out 42 batters over 26.1 innings...His 14.35 strikeouts-per-nine average led the majors among pitchers with at least five starts...Left-handers managed just three hits in 36 at bats against him...His .083 opposing average vs. lefties was best in the majors among pitchers with at least five starts.

2019
Appeared in the Majors with both Texas and Philadelphia while also spending time in the the minors with Milwaukee.... Opened the year with Texas and went made 13 appearances (nine starts) for the Rangers.... His start on April 1 vs. Houston was his first in the Majors since September 26, 2016 with Tampa Bay.... Earned his first win in over two years on May 24 at Los Angeles-AL...last win in Majors prior to that was September 13, 2016 at Toronto (with Tampa Bay).... Was designated for assignment by Texas on June 20 and released on June 25... Signed a minor league contract with Milwaukee on July 1 and was assigned to Triple-A San Antonio...made three starts for the Missions.... Was released by Milwaukee on July 18.... Signed by Philadelphia to a Major League contract on July 21 and spent the rest of the year with the Phillies.... Won his second start with the Phillies on July 30, blanking SF over 7.0 innings.

2018
Signed a 2-year free agent contract with CHC in Dec. 2017 and spent entire season on the 60-day disabled list…progressed to the point where made a start on injury rehabilitation assignment with South Bend (A) on 8/30 (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 SO)….was formally shut down from
any potential return in 2018 on 9/10…2017: Was traded to SEA on 1/11/17…was a member of Team USA in World Baseball Classic with lone outing being in 2nd round start vs. Venezuela (4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R-0 ER, 8 SO) on 3/15…had no decision in 4-2 USA win…made 3 spring training outings with SEA before being shut down to due left elbow soreness...opened the season on the 10-day DL and was transferred to 60-day DL on 4/4…underwent ligament reconstruction surgery on 7/6 performed by Dr. James Andrews and missed rest of season…was not tendered a 2018 contract by the Mariners on 12/1.

2017
Was acquired by Seattle prior to the season but suffered an elbow injury in March that led to Tommy John surgery in June ... missed the entire season ... was non-tendered by the Mariners following the season.

2016
Totals - He was 7-12 with a 4.88 ERA (95 ER, 175.1 IP) with 167 strikeouts in 30 starts with Tampa Bay... Highs - Career highs with 30 starts, 175.1 IP and 167 strikeouts...Strong Finish - Began season 2-11 with 5.64 ERA (66 ER, 105.1 IP) in his first 18 starts…finished 5-1 with 3.73 ERA (29 ER, 70.0 IP) in final 12 starts... Streaking - Had a 7-game losing streak (over 10 starts) from May 21- July 18, then won next 5 decisions (over 11 starts) July 23-Sep 20... Strikeouts - Had four 10+ strikeout games, 4th-most among AL pitchers: Boston's David Price (7), Detroit's Justin Verlander (7) and Tampa Bay's Chris Archer (6)...Career Best - Had 11 strikeouts in back-to-back starts (April 13 vs. Cleveland & April 19 at Boston) and a career-high 12 strikeouts (with 0 walks) on June 15 vs. Seattle...Long Ball - Gave up 32 home runs, the 6th-most in the Majors... Lefty Longball - Allowed 7 home runs to left-handed hitters, tied for most in the Majors by a lefty (also: David Price and Hector Santiago)…only 5 home runs to lefties (2013-15)...Just One - He and San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner were only two in Majors with 2 starts of 7.0+ IP and 1 hit-or-fewer…April 19 at BOS (8.0 IP) and Aug 15 vs. SD (7.0 IP)...Impressive - On April 19 became first opposing lefty to register 10+ strikeouts and 1-orfewer hits at Fenway Park (Elias Sports)…retired last 17 batters but earned no decision (8.0 IP, 1 H, 11 K…first AL pitcher since Baseball Reference data is available (1913) to allow no runs, one hit or fewer and record 11-plus strikeouts and not earn the win.

2015
Missed 105 games due to a left shoulder injury...began the season on the DL with left shoulder tendinitis...returned April 24 and made 3 starts before returning to the DL with left shoulder soreness on May 9...missed 14 weeks before returning for good on Aug 16…In 9 starts after his return in August, led the Rays staff with a 5-1 record and 3.24 ERA… Lost his first start after returning, Aug 16 at TEX (5-3), then finished the season 5-0 in his last 8 starts (2.54 ERA)…Became the second Ray to go 4-0 (or better) in September, joining David Price (2010 and 2012)...his 2.50 ERA for September ranked 5th among major league starters (min. 6 starts)...his 45 SO tied Scott Kazmir's club record for September (2007) and tied BOS Rick Porcello for most in the AL...had 3 scoreless starts of 6 IP or more in September, tops in the AL…The Rays were 8-4 in his 12 starts and are 13-6 in his 19 starts as a Ray...in his 19 starts, has al-lowed 2 runs or fewer 14 times, one run or fewer 10 times and 4 hits or fewer 13 times…Averaged a career-best 10.4 SO/9 IP...of his 77 strikeouts, 68 were swinging…As a Ray (2014-15), has held left-handed hitters to a .156 avg. (14-for-90, 2-HR)...hasn't allowed a homer in his last 56 AB vs. lefties since Sep 6, 2014 vs. BAL (Chris Davis)…Has never lost at Tropicana Field (3-0)...as a Ray, is 2-0 in 8 starts and the Rays are 6-2 in his starts at home…The loss Aug 16 at TEX snapped a streak of 9 starts of 4 hits or fewer and 2 runs or fewer, which tied for the longest such streak by a major league starter since data is available (1914)...joined MIN Johan Santana in his Cy Young season of 2004 (June 15-July 27)...that loss also snapped his club record of 10 consecutive starts of 3 runs or fewer to begin a Rays career… On Sep 1 vs. BAL, tossed 7 shutout innings (4-H, 1-BB, 10-SO), his longest outing of the season...is 9-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 27 games (16 starts) vs. the Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays (121.1-IP, 72-H, 23-ER)...his career ERA is under 2.00 vs. each team...in his only loss May 5 at BOS, he carried a no-hitter into the 6th before allowing a leadoff homer that inning to Mookie Betts in the eventual 2-0 loss...the Rays are 9-3 in his 12 starts vs. AL East over the past two seasons...in 7 starts vs. the AL East in 2015, went 3-1 and had 55 SO in only 41.2 IP…Posted a 0.49 ERA (18.1-IP, 1-ER) in 3 starts vs…Boston, but earned only one win as the Rays were shut out 2-0 in two of the games...the 0.49 ERA matched CWS Red Faber (1917) as the 4th lowest in one season against Boston (min. 3 starts)...they trail MIN Frank Viola (0.33 in 1988), CLE Sam McDowell (0.44 in 1968) and CWS Ted Lyons (0.46 in 1940)…On Sep 13 vs. BOS, he and Rich Hill both recorded at least 10 SO and didn't allow a run...Smyly had 11, tying his career high, and Hill tallied 10...according to Baseball Reference, it was only the sixth time since 1914 that both starters had at least 10 SO and no runs, and second time in the AL… Despite only 12 starts, his 4 pickoffs tied for 4th most in the AL...leads the AL with 11 over the last two seasons…Made a club-high 7 rehab starts with stops at Class-A Charlotte, Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham.

2014
Acquired hours before the July 31 trading deadline in a three-team, five-player trade with Seattle and Detroit that sent LH David Price to the Tigers…the Rays also received INF Nick Franklin from Seattle and minor league SS Willy Adames from Detroit...Threw a combined 153 innings with the Rays and Tigers, 77 more innings than 2013 and 27 more innings than he had ever thrown (126 with Class-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie in 2011)...The Rays shut him down after his start Sep 6 vs. BAL...Made 7 starts after joining the Rays, Aug 5-Sep 6, and went 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA, while the Rays went 5-2 in his 7 starts and won his last 4...During that span led all major league starters with a .155 opp avg., led the AL with 6.80 base runners per 9 IP and ranked 5th among AL starters in ERA...A total of 16 starting pitchers were traded prior to the July 2014 trading deadline…none of those pitchers put up better numbers with their new teams than Smyly's winning pct. (.750) and ERA (1.70).Became the first Tampa Bay pitcher since RH Jae Seo (acquired from LAD in 2007) to be acquired in-season and start a game that year for the Rays...Allowed 3 runs or fewer in all 7 starts, establishing a club record to begin a Rays career...Went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA (36-IP, 6-ER) and 29 SO over 5 starts in August, his first month with the Rays…based on ERA, it was the best "debut month" by a starting pitcher in club history and the 4th-best August behind only Matt Garza (1.27, 2010), Julio Santana (1.43, 1998) and Alex Cobb (1.49, 2014)...After finishing 7 innings only three times in 36 career starts with Detroit, he threw 7 innings or more 4 times in 7 starts with the Rays...Lost his Rays debut on Aug 5 at OAK (5.1-IP, 7-H, 3-ER), the only start with the Rays in which he allowed more than 4 hits…went 3-0 with a 1.28 ERA (42.1-IP, 18-H, 6-ER) after that...With the Tigers and Rays combined, ranked 3rd among major league starters with a .171 opp avg. (27-for-158) against left-handed hitters…as a Ray, held lefties to .154 (6-for-39)… has held lefties to a .190 (74-for-389) avg. in his major league career...Led the AL with 7 pickoffs and ranked 2nd in the majors to SF Madison Bumgarner (9)...Had only 3 career pickoffs entering the season...Had 10 total starts in which he allowed 4 hits or fewer, the same number as NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw...On Aug 22 at TOR, in his fourth start as a Ray, turned in a 2-hit, complete-game shutout-the first CG of his professional career...He faced one batter over the minimum (28) and retired the final 19 batters in order, with no walks and 105 pitches…it was the Rays only CG shutout in 2014...It was the fourth time a Rays pitcher threw a shutout on 2 hits or fewer without allowing a walk, joining Chris Archer and two by James Shields…his line: W, 9 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO...Was one of only four AL pitchers to throw a complete game allowing 2 or fewer base runners in 2014...The others: DET David Price (Aug 21 at TB), CWS Chris Sale (June 1 vs. SD) and CLE Josh Tomlin (June 28 at SEA)...Won 3-1 on Aug 27 at BAL, allowing only 3 base runners (7-IP, 2-H, 1-R/ER, 1-BB, 6-SO)...Became the first visiting pitcher to win at Camden Yards while pitching 7 or more innings and allowing 2 hits or fewer since TEX Matt Harrison in 2011...The Rays went 4-1 in his 4 starts vs. the AL East and he went 2-0, improving to 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA (79.2-IP, 13-ER) in 20 career apps (9 starts) against the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays…also has a postseason win vs. NYY...His only AL East loss came vs. the Rays on July 4 in Detroit...With the Tigers, carried no-hitters into the 5th in two consecutive starts on July 20 vs. CLE and July 25 at LAA...On July 25, had a career-high 11 SO over 5.2 IP…his 11 SO were the most by a Tigers lefty since David Wells had 11 SO on June 4, 1993 vs. CAL.

2013
Established career-highs in nearly every category as he spent his first full season at the major league level with the Tigers in 2013...Ranked sixth among American League relievers with 76.0 innings pitched, while he was ninth with 81 strikeouts...Tossed four perfect innings to record his first career save on April 5 versus New York -- marked the first save of four-or-more innings by a Tigers pitcher since Esteban Yan did so on May 14, 2005 versus Texas...Tossed a season-high 5.2 innings of relief on April 20 at Angel Stadium in Los Angeles...struck out a season-high seven batters that same day...Posted a 1-0 record, a 3.07 ERA (14.2IP/2ER) and 14 strikeouts in nine appearances during May...Compiled a 1-0 record, a 2.20 ERA (16.1IP/4ER) and 17 strikeouts in 11 appearances during June...Did not allow a run in 13 consecutive outings from June 28-July 28 (13.1IP/0ER)...Held opponents to a .136 (9x66) batting average with runners in scoring position...Limited lefthanded batters to a .189 (23x122) batting average... righties hit .242 (39x161) with him on the mound...Compiled a 3-0 record a 2.78 ERA (25.2IP/11ER) and 39 strikeouts in 29 games at home...posted a 3-0 record and a 2.01 ERA (40.1IP/9ER) and 42 strikeouts in 34 games on the road...Made six appearances out of the bullpen for the Tigers in the postseason, compiling a 3.00 ERA (3.0IP/1ER).

2012
Made his major league debut on April 12 versus Tampa Bay -- did not figure in the decision after allowing one run in four innings of work during the start. ... Allowed just one run in each of his first four starts April 12-28 -- since at least 1918, he is the only Tigers starting pitcher to begin his career by allowing one run-or-fewer in each of his first four starts. ... Registered five quality starts in his first six career outings with the Tigers April 12-May 9, marking the sixth time since at least 1918 a club pitcher has posted five quality starts in his first six career outings...he is the first pitcher to do so since both Bruce Robbins and Dan Petry did so during the 1979 season. ... Earned his first major league win on April 28 at New York's Yankee Stadium, fanning seven batters as he held the Yankees to one run in six innings of work -- according to STATS LLC, he became the first Tigers starting pitcher to earn his first major league win in New York since Larry Pashnick did so at Yankee Stadium on April 24, 1982. ... Sidelined June 11-26 with a blister on his left middle finger -- assigned to Toledo on an injury rehabilitation assignment on June 21...allowed three runs (two earned) in two innings of work during his start with Toledo on June 21 versus Lehigh Valley. ... Established a career high with 10 strikeouts on July 6 versus Kansas City -- he did not issue a walk in his outing, and according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he joined Eric Erickson (1918) as the only two Tigers rookies to post an outing with 10-or-more strikeouts and no walks. ... Sidelined July 7-29 with a right intercostal strain. ... Optioned to Toledo by the Tigers on July 29. ... Made five starts with Toledo, compiling a 0-1 record, 4.50 ERA (14.0IP/7ER) and 21 strikeouts before being recalled by the Tigers for the remainder of the season on August 25. ... Compiled a 1.98 ERA (13.2IP/3ER) and 13 strikeouts in six outings (two starts) during September and October. ... Lefthanded hitters batted .224 (26x116) against him...righties hit .258 (67x260) with Smyly on the mound. ... Earned the win in Game One of the American League Championship Series on October 13 at Yankee Stadium against New York after tossing two scoreless innings of relief -- became the third rookie pitcher in Tigers history to win a postseason game, joining Mike Henneman (1987) and Justin Verlander (2006).
2011
Tabbed the Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2011 as he compiled an 11-6 record, 2.07 ERA (126.0IP/29ER) and 130 strikeouts in 22 outings (21 starts) with Single A Lakeland and Double A Erie...Opened the season with Lakeland -- sidelined April 20-May 28 with left elbow tendinitis...Selected the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week for June 6-12 after he earned the win in his only outing during the week on June 8 at Daytona, fanning seven batters as he blanked the club over seven hitless innings...Earned Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June after posting a 4-0 record, 1.93 ERA (32.2IP/7ER) and 31 strikeouts in five starts -- tied for the lead in the Florida State League with four wins, while he finished fifth with 31 strikeouts and sixth with a 1.93 ERA...Fanned a season-best 10 batters on July 25 versus Palm Beach -- equaled the high with 10 strikeouts twice for Erie, doing so on August 22 at Binghamton and September 1 versus Binghamton...Had his contract transferred from Lakeland to Erie for the remainder of the season on July 29...Garnered Tigers Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for July after he compiled a 4-1 record, 1.69 ERA (32.0IP/6ER) and 37 strikeouts in six starts between Lakeland and Erie...Posted a 3-2 record, 1.52 ERA (29.2IP/5ER) and 35 strikeouts in five starts during August -- third in the Eastern League with a 1.52 ERA during the month, while he tied for ninth with 35 strikeouts...Named the third-best prospect in the Tigers organization and the 16th-best prospect in the Florida State League following the season by Baseball America...Saw action with Team USA during the Pan American Games following the season -- posted a 2-0 record as he fanned 17 batters in 17.0 scoreless innings of work over three starts.
2010
Selected by the Tigers in the second round of the June 2010 draft -- did not pitch after signing on August 16...Named the eighth-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

*Courtesy Cubs.com