Justin Kyle Smoak was born on December 5,1986 and is an American professional baseball first baseman who is currently a free agent.
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42 Facts About Justin Smoak
2.
Justin Smoak has played in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Francisco Giants and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yomiuri Giants.
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4.
Justin Smoak made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 2010, and was traded to the Seattle Mariners that season.
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5.
Justin Smoak was claimed by the Blue Jays off waivers in 2014, and played for them until 2019.
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6.
Justin Smoak was an All Star in 2017, and was fifth in the American League that season with 38 home runs.
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7.
Justin Smoak graduated from Stratford High School in 2005, after four years of high school baseball.
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9.
Justin Smoak was initially drafted by the Oakland Athletics as a 16th-round pick in 2005 upon graduation, but instead attended the University of South Carolina.
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10.
Justin Smoak went on to play college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks for three years.
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11.
Justin Smoak was a semi-finalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 2007 and 2008.
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12.
Justin Smoak is South Carolina's all-time home run king with 62, having broken Hank Small's record of 48, which stood for over 30 years.
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13.
Justin Smoak is South Carolina's career leader in RBIs and walks.
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14.
Justin Smoak is a member of the CCBL Hall of Fame class of 2022.
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15.
Justin Smoak won a silver medal there, when his team lost to Cuba in the finals.
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16.
In 2009, Justin Smoak again represented his country in the IBAF Baseball World Cup.
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17.
Justin Smoak hit nine home runs and drove in 22 runs, and was named to the 2009 IBAF World Cup All-Tournament Team along with fellow Team USA players Terry Tiffee and Jon Weber.
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18.
Justin Smoak was named the 2009 Baseball World Cup's Most Valuable Player.
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19.
Justin Smoak won the USA Baseball Richard W "Dick" Case Player of the Year Award in 2009.
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21.
Justin Smoak began play in the 2009 season for the Class AA Frisco RoughRiders.
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22.
Justin Smoak was promoted on July 8,2009, to the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks.
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23.
Justin Smoak entered 2010 ranked among the best prospects in baseball.
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24.
Justin Smoak was called up by the Rangers on April 22,2010, and made his MLB debut the following evening in a game against the Detroit Tigers.
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25.
Justin Smoak set a franchise record by drawing at least one walk in each of his first four games.
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26.
On July 9,2010, Justin Smoak was traded to the Seattle Mariners with prospects Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke, and Matt Lawson, for Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe.
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27.
On July 23,2012, Justin Smoak was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, after his batting average dropped down to.
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28.
Justin Smoak hit 20 home runs in 131 games played during the 2013 campaign.
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29.
Justin Smoak made his debut with Toronto on Opening Day, as a defensive replacement for Edwin Encarnacion.
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30.
Justin Smoak changed his uniform number from 13 back to 14, which he had vacated for David Price.
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31.
Justin Smoak had an 0-for-29 slump with runners in scoring position, one at bat short of the team's all-time record for the longest hitless streak with runners in scoring position.
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33.
Justin Smoak struck out 112 times in 341 plate appearances; his 32.
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34.
Justin Smoak was included on the team's Wild Card and Division Series rosters, but was left off the Championship Series roster.
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35.
In 2017, Justin Smoak was the American League starting first baseman for the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
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36.
Justin Smoak struggled to match his 2017 offensive numbers the following season.
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37.
On December 19,2019, Justin Smoak signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
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38.
Justin Smoak was designated for assignment by the Brewers on September 3,2020.
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39.
On September 9,2020, Justin Smoak signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.
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40.
On January 7,2021, Justin Smoak signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.
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41.
On June 18,2021, Justin Smoak decided to leave the Giants and Japan in order to return to the United States to be with his family.
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42.
In November 2010, Justin Smoak married his high school sweetheart, Kristin Bevacqua.
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