Former Wild Things' Pitcher Makes MLB Debut

WASHINGTON, Pa. - Former Washington Wild Things right-handed pitcher Chris Smith made his Major-League debut last night, pitching a scoreless inning for the American League's Toronto Blue Jays. Smith allowed a hit but was otherwise perfect in the inning.

It's the second time Smith has been on the big-league roster in Toronto, as he was called up last season but did not pitch. In the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss yesterday, Smith tossed a scoreless top of the ninth.

The right hander from Louisville, Kentucky, pitched in the Frontier League in 2010, 2011 and 2012, as he started the 2010 season with the Lake Erie Crushers, but only saw one inning before his release. In 2011, he not only pitched for the White Sands in the Pecos League, but Smith tossed 3.1 innings, giving up seven runs for the Traverse City Beach Bums. That's when he came to Washington, where he'd pitch 24 innings in 2011, sporting a 4.50 earned run average and a 1-2 record, while striking out 21.

Smith would return to the Wild Things in 2012, where he'd have a very successful season, a year in which Smith went 9-6 in 19 appearances (all starts), and turned out an ERA of 2.92. Smith pitched 129.1 innings that summer, and struck out 116 batters to just over 50 walks.

Chris is the third pitcher to make an MLB roster from the Washington Wild Things in the franchise's history, and the second to make his MLB debut on the mound, joining journeyman Vidal Nuño. The other former Wild Things' pitcher to be called up is Tom Cochran, a left hander that spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Wild Things.