Canaan Smith-Njigba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canaan Smith-Njigba |
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Smith-Njigba with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
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| Free agent | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: April 30, 1999 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 14, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Batting average | .135 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 5 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba (born April 30, 1999) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as an outfielder. He used to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). Right now, he is a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team.
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Playing Baseball as a Kid
Canaan went to Rockwall-Heath High School in Heath, Texas. He was a great baseball player there. He even planned to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.
In his last year of high school, he was very good. Other teams would often intentionally walk him. This means they would let him go to first base without pitching to him! After high school, the New York Yankees picked him in the fourth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. This was a big step towards playing professional baseball.
Starting His Professional Journey
Playing for the Yankees' Minor League Teams
After signing with the Yankees, Canaan started playing in the minor leagues. He played for the Gulf Coast League Yankees in 2017. He hit well, with a batting average of .289. He also hit five home runs and had 28 RBIs (runs batted in).
In 2018, he played for the Staten Island Yankees. He missed some games because of an injury. In 2019, he played for the Charleston RiverDogs. He did very well that year and was even chosen as an All-Star! He had a batting average of .307, hit 11 home runs, and stole 16 bases.
He did not play in 2020. This was because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moving to the Pittsburgh Pirates
On January 24, 2021, Canaan was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He joined the Pirates along with three other players. He spent most of 2021 playing for the Altoona Curve. He had a good season, hitting .274 and stealing 13 bases. He had a couple of small injuries that year.
Later in 2021, he moved up to the Indianapolis Indians. After the season, the Pirates added him to their 40-man roster. This meant he was protected from being picked by other teams. He started the 2022 season back with the Indianapolis Indians.
Playing in Major League Baseball
On June 13, 2022, Canaan got a big promotion! He was called up to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball. The very next night, he got his first major league hit. It was a double! He played in three games.
Soon after, he hurt his wrist and had to go on the injured list. This meant he couldn't play for a while.
In 2023, Canaan played in 15 games for the Pirates. He had five RBIs and stole one base. In early 2024, the Pirates decided to make some changes to their team roster. This meant Canaan was no longer on their main team.
Changing Teams
Canaan was then picked up by the Seattle Mariners in February 2024. But just ten days later, he was again taken off their main roster. The Pittsburgh Pirates then picked him up again!
He started the 2024 season playing for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. However, the Pirates made more roster changes, and he was again taken off their main team. He continued to play for the Indianapolis Indians. On July 6, 2024, he was released by the Pirates. This meant he was a free agent.
In August 2024, Canaan signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He became a free agent again after the 2024 season.
About His Family
Canaan has a younger brother named Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Jaxon is also a professional athlete. He plays as a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks in American football.
Canaan's grandparents on his father's side are from Sierra Leone.
Images for kids
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Smith-Njigba with the Indianapolis Indians in 2022
