Canaan Smith-Njigba - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Catches on with South Siders Smith-Njiba signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Aug. 7 and debuted with Double-A Birmingham on Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a solo home run.

Impact Once a well-regarded prospect in the Pirates organization, Smith-Njigba hit .135 over 37 at-bats in the majors between the 2022 and 2023 seasons before he was moved off the 40-man roster in March. Smith-Njigba cleared waivers and stuck around with Pittsburgh at Triple-A Indianapolis, but he slashed just 212/.344/.330 over 219 plate appearances in the International League before he was cut loose in July. The 25-year-old outfielder has now found an opportunity in a new organization, but he'll likely still need to perform well at Birmingham and eventually Triple-A Charlotte for an extended stretch before he garners another look at the big-league level.

AUGUST 15 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to free agency Smith-Njigba was released by the Pirates on Saturday, per MiLB's transaction log.

Impact Smith-Njigba struggled to find his footing with Triple-A Indianapolis through 54 games this season, slashing .212/.344/.330 with two home runs, 18 RBI, six stolen bases and 26 runs scored. He'll search to catch on elsewhere following Saturday's transaction.

JULY 8 • ROTOWIRE

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba returns to Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Monday.Smith-Njigba was on the Pirate...

FEBRUARY 19 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba returns to Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Monday.Smith-Njigba was on the Pirate...

FEBRUARY 19 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

OF Canaan Smith-Njigba returns to Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Monday.Smith-Njigba was on the Pirate...

FEBRUARY 19 • KANSASCITY.COM

Another Smith-Njigba catches on in Seattle as Canaan Smith-Njigba claimed by Mariners

There will be another member of the Smith-Njigba family playing for a Seattle team after the Mariners claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba off waivers

FEBRUARY 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates lose Canaan Smith-Njigba to Mariners; outfielder will join younger brother in Seattle Canaan Smith-Njigba will be reunited with his younger brother, Jaxon, in Seattle, as the Mariners claimed him off waivers from the Pirates.

FEBRUARY 7 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Optioned to Indianapolis Pittsburgh optioned Smith-Njigba to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact The move clears space on the 26-man active roster for Osvaldo Bido, as Bido had his contract selected from Indianapolis to make the start versus the Cubs on Thursday. In 32 at-bats with Pittsburgh in 2023, Smith-Njigba has struggled to a .125/.216/.219 slash with no homers and one stolen bases along with an ugly 16:4 K:BB.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Indianapolis The Pirates recalled Smith-Njigba from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Impact Smith-Njigba began the season with the Pirates but was optioned out to Triple-A on April 26 after putting up just a .435 OPS through his first 37 plate appearances. Since then, he's slashed .245/.339/.547 with 22 RBI across 124 plate appearances in Indianapolis and has now re-earned a spot on the MLB roster. Smith-Njigba will give the Pirates additional depth in the outfield; meanwhile, Chase De Jong will be designated for assignment to free up a roster spot.

JUNE 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Canaan Smith-Njigba sent down, Cody Bolton arrives from Indy amid flurry of Pirates roster moves The Pirates on Wednesday optioned Canaan Smith-Njigba to Triple-A Indianapolis and selected Cody Bolton, among a couple roster moves.

APRIL 26, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Optioned out to Triple-A Smith-Njigba was optioned Wednesday to Triple-A Indianapolis, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Cody Bolton is joining the Pirates' bullpen Wednesday in a corresponding move. Smith-Njigba, 23, had slashed just .125/.216/.219 with 16 strikeouts through 14 games (37 plate appearances) this year.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Demotion coming Smith-Njigba no longer has a locker in the Pirates' clubhouse at PNC Park, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact It appears that Smith-Njigba will be replaced on the roster by reliever Cody Bolton, although nothing is official yet. Smith-Njigba is just 4-for-32 with a 16:4 K:BB over 37 plate appearances this season.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Idle versus lefty Smith-Njigba is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Impact Smith-Njigba will take a seat with southpaw Austin Gomber on the hill for Colorado, but the lefty-hitting outfielder has been included in the lineup for each of the past three occasions the Pirates have faced right-handed starting pitchers. With Ji-Man Choi (Achilles) likely out for at least eight weeks, Andrew McCutchen is expected to see most of his reps at designated hitter moving forward, clearing the runway for Smith-Njigba to stake a claim to a large-side platoon role in right field.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time dwindling Smith-Njigba is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.

Impact The lefty-hitting Smith-Njigba's absence from the lineup versus a tough southpaw (Framber Valdez) comes as little surprise, but the 23-year-old rookie's playing time versus right-handed pitching had already been trending down of late. He's made just one start in the last four games in which Pittsburgh has faced a righty, with Jack Suwinski and Ji Hwan Bae both seemingly moving ahead of Smith-Njigba in the outfield pecking order.

APRIL 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Breather Friday Smith-Njigba will take a seat Friday versus the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Impact Smith-Njigba will remain on the bench for a second straight game. Connor Joe will enter the lineup in right field and bat seventh in the series opener.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Wednesday Smith-Njigba is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Red Sox.

Impact Smith-Njigba will head to the bench after he went 1-for-6 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and four strikeouts over the first two games of the series. Bryan Reynolds will take over in left field while Jack Suwinski enters the lineup in right field and bats sixth in the series-finale with Boston.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Smith-Njigba will not start Saturday against the Reds.

Impact Smith-Njigba got the start in right field on Opening Day against righty Hunter Greene, going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. With lefty Nick Lodolo on the hill in the second game of the year, Smith-Njigba will sit in favor of Connor Joe.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Surprise Opening Day starter Smith-Njigba went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts in Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Reds.

Impact Manager Derek Shelton rewarded the 23-year-old Smith-Njigba for an outstanding spring in which he hit .333/.407/.583 with three homers and 14 RBI across 20 games. Not only did Smith-Njigba get the nod in right field, he hit fifth in the order behind Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana, and ahead of Ke'Bryan Hayes and Jack Suwinski. He was later lifted for a defensive replacement, but it seems Smith-Njigba will get a look as a primary outfielder in Pittsburgh to start the season.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will be on Opening Day roster Smith-Njigba will be on the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.

Impact Smith-Njigba claimed the fourth outfielder role in Pittsburgh with a .340 batting average and 1.011 OPS through 47 at-bats of Grapefruit League play. He hit a three-run homer in the Pirates' final spring game Tuesday afternoon against the Twins. There's not much overall evidence hinting at immediate fantasy upside, but he has room to grow at age 23.

MARCH 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sources: Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jason Delay and Ji Hwan Bae on Pirates' opening day roster Canaan Smith-Njigba’s stellar spring will indeed have a tangible reward, as the Pirates outfielder will be on the opening day roster Thursda...

MARCH 28, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Battling for roster spot Smith-Njigba has gone 7-for-27 (.259) with two home runs and four walks during Grapefruit League action.

Impact Smith-Njigba has shown off his power of late, as he homered for the second time in his last three games Friday against the Rays. He cleared the wall an additional time earlier in spring training but due to a baserunning blunder, he was only credited with a single. Regardless of his exact stats, Smith-Njigba has been impressive this spring as he seeks to earn a roster spot as a reserve outfielder ahead of the likes of Cal Mitchell and Travis Swaggerty.

MARCH 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

After wrist injury, Canaan Smith-Njigba eager to 'grind' and force his way into Pirates' outfield mix Canaan Smith-Njigba had his season cut short in 2022. However, because of his on-base skills, he remains an intriguing prospect.

FEBRUARY 1, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Cleared for full activities The Pirates announced Wednesday that Smith-Njigba (wrist) has been cleared for full baseball activities, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith-Njigba looks like he'll be ready to go for spring training despite missing the final three and a half months of the 2022 season with a fractured right wrist. The 23-year-old suffered the injury after appearing in just three games for the Pirates following his call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis. The missed time denied Smith-Njigba to stake his claim to a regular role for the Bucs entering 2023, so he'll most likely be optioned to Indianapolis next spring.

OCTOBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Unlikely to return this season Smith-Njigba (wrist) is unlikely to return in 2022, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Impact Smith-Njigba sustained a fractured right wrist in mid-June and has been on the injured list since then. While he's expected to undergo imaging sometime over the next week, he's unlikely to have enough time to ramp up prior to the end of the regular season. However, the Pirates hope that he could return for Instructional League play in the fall.

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

'That wasn't just my hit': Smith-Njigba indebted to inner circle Canaan Smith-Njigba 's first big league plate appearance was a trial by fire. His name was called with two outs in the ninth inning on June...

JULY 4, 2022 • MLB.COM

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Another Smith-Njigba catches on in Seattle as Canaan Smith-Njigba claimed by Mariners