Riley

Smith

Smith signed a minor league contract a few weeks ago with the Guardians has decided to step away from the game after just two appearances (one start) in Cleveland’s system. The 28-year-old righty made 30 appearances (six starts) for the Diamondbacks between 2020 and 2021.

The 28-year-old hurler hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since the 2021 season with the Diamondbacks. He had been pitching for the Cleburne Railroaders in the independent American Association where he posted a 5.73 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and a 25/18 K/BB ratio over 44 innings. Given all of the injuries that the Guardians have suffered in their rotation, they need to add starting pitching depth from anywhere that they can find it.

Smith was released by the Diamondbacks last month after compiling an inflated 6.01 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 36/15 K/BB ratio across 67 1/3 innings (24 appearances, six starts) last season at the major-league level. The 27-year-old righty offers some versatility for the Rockies and will bolster their organizational pitching depth this season.

Smith was removed from the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster last November after posting a bloated 6.01 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 36/15 K/BB ratio across 67 1/3 innings (24 appearances, six starts) last season. The 27-year-old righty will test the free agent waters in search of a new opportunity.

Smith has been jettisoned from the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster after recording a bloated 6.01 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 36/15 K/BB ratio across 67 1/3 innings (24 appearances, six starts) last season. The 26-year-old righty will function as organizational depth if he accepts the outright assignment.

Smith is in the clear after a COVID scare, but the D-backs don’t have a place for him right now on their staff.

Smith is one of five Diamondbacks players -- and one of three from their bullpen -- to land on the COVID-IL on Friday. The 26-year-old hurler has struggled to a 6.01 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 36/15 K/BB ratio over 67 1/3 innings in 24 appearances (six starts) on the season.

Smith was making his fourth start of the season but his first since mid-May, so he wasn’t fully stretched out even though he’s had some long relief stints. The backbreaker for him came in the second inning when opposing pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim sliced a two-out, two-RBI double over the shallow-playing left fielder’s head. St. Louis tacked on a couple more in the third. It’s not clear whether Smith will get another start.

After Jon Duplantier struggled to make it out of the second inning, giving up six runs, Smith was called on to try to limit the damage on the day against the Angels. He tossed three scoreless innings before giving up three doubles in the sixth that would score two runs. The 26-year-old right-hander did throw 43-of-57 pitches for strikes and generated six whiffs to strike out five batters. Smith could be an option to rejoin the rotation should the team opt to move Duplantier out of the starting role.

With Caleb Smith moving back into the rotation, Riley Smith took his place as a long reliever in the bullpen. Smith entered the game in the seventh inning after the Diamondbacks took a 9-2 lead in the sixth. The 27-year-old right-hander held St. Louis scoreless for the rest of the game as he earned his first career save.