Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Riley Smith was born January 15, 1995, in Lufkin, Texas. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Smith attended Hudson High School in Lufkin, Texas. Undrafted out of high school in 2013, Smith attended San Jacinto College for two years. He went 6–2 with a 2.30 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 70 innings in 2014. He posted a 7–2 record with a 2.96 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 75 innings in 2015. Smith helped lead the San Jacinto Gators to the NJCAA World Series in 2015. Smith was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 31st round of the 2015 MLB draft, but did not sign and transferred to Louisiana State University for the 2016 season. Smith went 2–1 with a 7.22 ERA over 32 innings in 2016. Smith was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 24th round, with the 719th overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft and signed with them.

Smith spent his professional debut season of 2016 with the Hillsboro Hops, going 2–0 with a 2.51 ERA over 32 innings. He split the 2017 season between Hillsboro and the Kane County Cougars, going a combined 7–4 with a 3.07 ERA over 105 2⁄3 innings. He spent 2018 with the Visalia Rawhide, going 8–6 with a 3.57 ERA over 151 innings. He split the 2019 season between the Jackson Generals and the Reno Aces, going a combined 6–6 with a 4.43 ERA over 133 1⁄3 innings.

Smith was added to the Diamondbacks 40–man roster following the 2019 season.