Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Optioned out to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Smith-Njigba to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Reliever Cody Bolton was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Smith-Njigba, 23, had slashed just .125/.216/.219 with 16 strikeouts through 14 games (37 plate appearances) this season.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Demotion coming
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Smith-Njigba no longer has a locker in the Pirates' clubhouse at PNC Park, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Idle versus lefty
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Smith-Njigba is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Playing time dwindling
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Smith-Njigba is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
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.
Smith-Njigba will take a seat Friday versus the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Sitting Wednesday
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Smith-Njigba is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Red Sox.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Heads to bench
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba will not start Saturday against the Reds.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Surprise Opening Day starter
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Smith-Njigba went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts in Thursday's 5-4 victory over the Reds.
Manager Derek Shelton rewarded the 23-year-old Smith-Njigba for an outstanding spring in which he slashed .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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Will be on Opening Day roster
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Smith-Njigba will be on the Pirates' Opening Day roster, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Battling for roster spot
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Smith-Njigba has gone 7-for-27 (.259) with two home runs and four walks during Grapefruit League action.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Cleared for full activities
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The Pirates announced Wednesday that Smith-Njigba (wrist) has been cleared for full baseball activities, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Unlikely to return this season
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Smith-Njigba (wrist) is unlikely to return in 2022, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
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.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Out with broken wrist
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Smith-Njigba was placed on the 60-day injured list Friday with a fractured right wrist, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
The 22-year-old was promoted for his major-league debut earlier this week but will head to the injured list after playing in only three games. Smith-Njigba won't be eligible to be activated until mid-August.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Scores first run
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Smith-Njigba went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored Wednesday against the Cardinals.
Smith-Njigba was in the lineup for the second consecutive game, batting seventh and starting in left field. He walked to open the second inning and came around to score on a throwing error by Jack Flaherty. Smith-Njigba is the latest prospect to join the Pittsburgh outfield, and he figures to rotate with Jack Suwinski and Cal Mitchell in the corner spots. He has reached base twice through his first seven plate appearances.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Call-up official
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The Pirates recalled Smith-Njigba from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.
As anticipated, Smith-Njigba receives his first call-up to the big leagues after slashing .277/.387/.408 with 19 extra-base hits and an 8-for-11 success rate on stolen-base attempts in 218 plate appearances at Indianapolis. The Pirates optioned Travis Swaggerty to Triple-A to clear a spot on the active roster for Smith-Njigba, who could serve as the team's fourth outfielder while he's up with the big club.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: En route to big leagues
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The Pirates plan to recall Smith-Njigba from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Monday's game in St. Louis, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Utility man Hoy Park is also set to join the 26-man active roster, though it's unclear who will be deactivated to clear room for the new arrivals. Unless the Pirates are moving one of Bryan Reynolds, Cal Mitchell or Jack Suwinski off the active roster, an everyday role in the outfield may not be available for Smith-Njigba, who lefty-hitting 23-year-old who has hit .277 with 19 extra-base hits (but only one home run) to go with eight stolen bases and a 15.2 percent walk rate across his 218 plate appearances with Indianapolis this season.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Sent to Triple-A
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Smith-Njigba was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Smith-Njigba has been with the Pirates in big-league camp after being added to the 40-man roster in November, but he won't make the Opening Day roster. The 22-year-old finished 2021 at Triple-A Indianapolis but spent most of the year with Double-A Altoona, where he hit .269/.395/.402 with six homers, 40 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 66 games.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Contract selected by Pirates
Rotowire
Smith-Njigba's contract was selected by the Pirates on Friday.
Smith-Njigba was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis late in the 2021 season and will now join the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He made 73 appearances between the Double-A and Triple-A clubs last year and hit .254 with six home runs, 42 RBI, 36 runs and 13 stolen bases.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Promoted to Triple-A
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Smith-Njigba will be promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis to close out the season, Jarrod Prugar of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
Smith missed nearly a month with a thigh injury but returned to game action Sept. 10. Across five appearances since then, he went just 1-for-13 with four runs and five walks, but he'll be rewarded with a late-season promotion.
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Pirates' Canaan Smith-Njigba: Out with thigh injury
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Smith-Njigba was placed on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Altoona on Wednesday with a right thigh injury, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
Smith-Njigba was reinstated from the injured list Aug. 5 after missing time with an undisclosed injury, and he'll return to the shelf due to the thigh injury without actually appearing in a game. It's unclear how long the 22-year-old, who has an .821 OPS with 13 stolen bases in 61 games this season for Altoona, will be sidelined.
