Drew Smyly is an American professional baseball player who currently pitches for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Smyly has had an extensive career, having played for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants.
However, the question remains: is Drew Smyly a good pitcher, or does he fall short of expectations?
Pitch Repertoire
Drew Smyly is a left-handed pitcher who has played for several teams in his career, including the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Smyly has a diverse pitch repertoire, which makes him a valuable asset for any team. In this analysis, we will examine Smyly’s pitch types, their frequency and effectiveness, and their comparison with league averages.
Smyly’s Pitch Types
Smyly primarily relies on three pitches – Sinker, Curve, and Cutter. His sinker is thrown at an average velocity of 92 mph, and it is a two-seam fastball that has a late downward movement.
His curveball is thrown at an average velocity of 78 mph, and it has a sharp, late-breaking movement, making it an effective pitch to strike out batters.
His cutter is thrown at an average velocity of 89 mph, and it has a moderate horizontal movement, which makes it a valuable pitch to induce weak contact.
Frequency and Effectiveness of Each Pitch Type
In 2023, Smyly threw his sinker 52.6% of the time, his curveball 29.2% of the time, and his cutter 18.2% of the time. According to Statcast, Smyly’s sinker has a whiff rate of 20.8%, which means that he induces a swing-and-miss on about 21% of the sinkers he throws.
His curveball has a whiff rate of 34.3%, which is higher than the league average for curveballs. His cutter has a whiff rate of 16.5%, which is slightly lower than the league average for cutters.
Comparison With League Averages
Smyly’s pitch usage is slightly different from the league average. In 2020, the league averaged a sinker usage of 36.2%, a curveball usage of 10.4%, and a cutter usage of 12.8%. Smyly throws his sinker more often than the league average, and his curveball and cutter less often than the league average.
In terms of effectiveness, Smyly’s curveball has a higher whiff rate than the league average for curveballs, indicating that it is a more effective pitch for him.
His cutter has a slightly lower whiff rate than the league average for cutters, which may indicate that his cutter is not as effective as the league average.
Drew Smyly relies primarily on his sinker, curveball, and cutter pitches. These pitches are effective for him, especially his curveball, which has a higher whiff rate than the league average for curveballs.
Smyly’s pitch usage differs slightly from the league average, but he has been successful in inducing weak contact and strikeouts using his diverse pitch repertoire.
Statistics Analysis
Drew Smyly is a professional baseball pitcher who has played in the Major Leagues since 2012. His career statistics and advanced metrics provide insights into his pitching style, effectiveness, and value.
In this analysis, we will provide an overview of his career statistics, compare them with league averages, and perform an advanced statistics analysis.
Pitch Selection
Smyly relies on his Sinker and Curveball, which make up the majority of his pitch selection. He also mixes in a Cutter, but it’s not as frequently used as his other two pitches. This pitch selection is not uncommon for a pitcher like Smyly, who relies on pitch movement and location to deceive hitters.
Career Statistics Overview
Smyly has a career record of 40-43 with an ERA of 4.18 and 744 strikeouts over 669 innings pitched. He has started 107 games and appeared in relief in 40 games.
These basic statistics provide a good overview of Smyly’s overall performance throughout his career but do not tell the entire story.
Comparing Smyly’s Statistics With League Averages
When compared to the league averages, Smyly’s ERA is slightly above average. However, his strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9) is well above the league average at 9.98 compared to 8.9.
He also has a good walk rate (BB/9) of 2.83 compared to the league average of 3.13. Smyly also induces ground balls at a higher rate than the league average, leading to a higher ground ball percentage (GB%) at 43.8% compared to the league average of 40.9%.
Advanced Statistics Analysis
Advanced statistics like FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), xFIP (Expected Fielding Independent Pitching), and SIERA (Skill-Interactive Earned Run Average) provide more insights into pitchers’ performances, removing factors that are outside the pitcher’s control, such as defense, ballpark factors, and luck.
Smyly’s career FIP is 4.29, which is slightly higher than his ERA, indicating that some of his underperformance could be attributed to factors outside of his control. However, his xFIP of 3.62 and SIERA of 3.59 suggest that his underlying performance is better than his ERA and FIP suggest.
Drew Smyly has had an above-average career, with a good strikeout rate, walk rate, and ground ball percentage.
The advanced statistics suggest that his performance could be better than his ERA and FIP suggest, which could be an indication of underperformance due to factors outside of his control. Overall, Smyly’s consistent performance as a starter and reliever make him a valuable asset to any team.
Performance in Critical Situations
Performance in Critical Situations
Drew Smyly has a fair amount of experience when it comes to high-pressure situations. He has appeared in 3 postseason games, where he threw 6.1 innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 earned runs while striking out 7 batters. He has a 2-1 record in these games with an ERA of 5.68.
When it comes to top opponents, Smyly has faced quite a few of them in his career, such as the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Giants. Against these teams, he has an overall record of 8-9 with an ERA of 4.47.
However, his record against them does not necessarily reflect how he has performed against them specifically, as he has shown the ability to shut them down in some games.
In clutch situations, Smyly has done a decent job of keeping his composure and executing pitches. For example, with runners in scoring position, he owns an opponent batting average of .238.
Additionally, with runners in scoring position and two outs, opponents are batting just .204 against him. These stats indicate that he has found a way to buckle down and get the job done when it matters the most.
Overall, while Smyly’s performance in high-pressure situations has not been perfect, he has shown that he can handle them and make quality pitches.
Against top opponents, he has had his ups and downs, but he has also shown that he can shut them down in key moments. In clutch situations, he has held his own and found a way to work his way out of tough spots.
Injury History and Durability
Smyly’s Injury History
Drew Smyly has had a notable injury history throughout his career in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He has been injured multiple times, with various injuries ranging from shoulder injuries to Tommy John surgery in 2017. Smyly has also missed significant time due to ankle, knee, and elbow injuries.
How Injuries May Have Affected Smyly’s Performance
Injuries have undoubtedly had a significant impact on Smyly’s performance over the years. Shoulder injuries affected his fastball velocity and control.
The Tommy John surgery hit him hard, as he missed the entire 2017 and 2018 seasons and threw just 36 innings in 2019, which resulted in a limited repertoire of pitches. As a result, Smyly played sparingly in the West Coast League in 2020.
Furthermore, he was also plagued with ankle and knee injuries in recent years that have affected his fielding abilities and caused him to miss playing time.
These injuries have contributed to Smyly’s inconsistency on the mound, as he hasn’t been able to put together complete seasons where he could sustain his high-level performance.
Durability Analysis and Projection
Smyly’s durability has been a defining factor throughout his career. His injury history has made it challenging to maintain his performance and longevity in the game. While he has the potential to be a dominant pitcher, his inability to stay healthy has been a significant concern.
Considering his recent injury history, it is difficult to project Smyly’s future durability. However, he has shown a willingness to fight through injuries and come back stronger, and he still has a high ceiling despite his injuries.
His durability will remain a question mark until he can demonstrate that he can sustain a high level of productivity for a considerable period.
Drew Smyly has had a challenging injury history throughout his career, which has impacted his performance.
While he has shown promising potential as a starting pitcher, his injuries have made it challenging to stay at his peak. Smyly’s durability remains uncertain, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in the future.
Who Does Drew Smyly Pitch for?
Who is Drew Smyly?
Smyly is an American professional baseball pitcher born on June 13, 1989.
He currently plays for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Smyly’s Early Career
Smyly played college baseball at the University of Arkansas.
He was selected in the second round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers.
Smyly made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Tigers, where he spent the first four years of his career.
Smyly’s Later Career
Smyly has played for several teams since his time with the Tigers, including the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, and Philadelphia Phillies.
He was signed by the Cubs in July 2020 as a free agent.
Smyly primarily serves as a relief pitcher for the Cubs, though he has occasionally started games as well.
Smyly’s Stats and Accolades
Throughout his career, Smyly has maintained a 4.13 earned run average (ERA) and struck out 686 batters across 646 innings pitched.
He was named American League Rookie of the Month in September 2012.
Smyly has yet to win any major baseball awards, but his consistent contributions to the teams he’s played for have made him a valuable asset.
Smyly’s Impact on the Cubs
Since joining the Cubs, Smyly has played a key role in the team’s bullpen.
His experience as both a starter and a reliever has made him a versatile option for the Cubs.
Smyly’s performance with the Cubs will likely continue to be an important factor in the team’s success moving forward.
How Many Home Runs Did Babe Ruth Hit as a Pitcher?
Babe Ruth initially started as a pitcher in his major league career. He later transitioned to playing in the outfield. Only 14 out of his 714 career home runs were hit while he was a pitcher. Ruth was known for his powerful hitting skills during his career.
He set the record for most home runs in a single season with 60 in 1927. Ruth’s success as a hitter is often attributed to his unique swing. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. His legacy as a baseball icon continues to this day.
Ruth’s life off the field was also storied and often controversial. He remains a beloved figure in American history and sports culture.
To Recap
While there have been moments in Smyly’s career where he has shone as a dominant pitcher, there have also been moments where he has struggled with consistency and injuries. His reliance on just a few pitches may leave him vulnerable to being figured out by big-league hitters.
However, with the right team, coaching, and support, there is little doubt that Smyly has the potential to continue to be a valuable asset to any MLB team he plays for.
