Hagen Boyd Smith (born August 19, 2003) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization.

Hagen Smith
Smith with Arkansas in 2024
Chicago White Sox
Pitcher
Born: (2003-08-19) August 19, 2003 (age 21)
Tyler, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Career highlights and awards

Amateur career

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Smith attended Bullard High School in Bullard, Texas. He underwent Tommy John surgery before his junior year in 2020.[1][2] As a senior in 2021, he went 11-0 with a 0.19 ERA, 168 strikeouts, and seven hits allowed over 73 innings alongside hitting .349.[3] Smith's seven no-hitters during senior year tied a Texas high school record.[4] He went unselected in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at the University of Arkansas to play college baseball.[5]

As a freshman at Arkansas in 2022, Smith appeared in twenty games (15 starts) and went 7-2 with a 4.66 ERA and ninety strikeouts over 77+13 innings.[6] As a sophomore in 2023, he pitched in 18 games (11 starts) and posted an 8-2 record with a 3.64 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 71+23 innings and was named a first-team All-American.[7][8] After the season, he was named to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.[9]

On February 23, 2024, Smith struck out 17 batters in a start against Oregon State, matching the Arkansas program record for strikeouts in a game.[10] Smith holds the career strikeouts record at Arkansas (360).[4] He finished 2024 year with a 9-2 record, 2.04 ERA and 161 strikeouts, including 7-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 110 strikeouts in conference play. Smith was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year[11] and won the National Pitcher of the Year Award.[12]

Professional career

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Smith was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round with the fifth overall pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.[13] On July 22, 2024, Smith signed with the White Sox on an $8 million contract.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Long, Christina. "Why those who know Hagen Smith say Arkansas baseball Freshman All-American was made for big moments". Southwest Times Record. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Clark, Douglas. "High School Sports Awards: Texas' Hagen Smith demonstrates post-surgery dominance on the mound during his senior year". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Ogden, Brandon (July 24, 2021). "ALL-EAST TEXAS BASEBALL: Bullard's Hagen Smith named Player of the Year (FOR PRINT)". TylerPaper.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b DeRosa, Theo (June 10, 2024). "This dominant college ace is 'pretty boring,' and that's a good thing". MLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Sarver, Braden (September 28, 2021). "New Razorback Hagen Smith Has All the Tools to Become Arkansas' Next Great Pitcher". Best of Arkansas Sports. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "Former Bullard standout Hagen Smith named preseason All-American". TylerPaper.com. January 6, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "UA's Smith named first-team All-American". www.arkansasonline.com. June 8, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "What's next for 'superstar' Hagen Smith at Arkansas?". 247Sports. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  9. ^ Hicks, Phil (June 30, 2022). "Bullard's Hagen Smith named to USA Baseball training camp roster". TylerPaper.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Hagen Smith Strikes Out 17 In Masterful Outing Against Oregon State". baseballamerica.com. February 24, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Arkansas ace Hagen Smith named SEC's pitcher of the year | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". May 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Arkansas' Smith named National Pitcher of the Year | Eldorado News". June 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "White Sox draft electric lefty Smith with No. 5 pick". MLB.com.
  14. ^ "White Sox Agree To Terms With No. 5 Pick Hagen Smith". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
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