Will resides in Newnan, Ga., with his wife, Taylor, and their son, Stone, who was born on March 13, 2023, and their dog, Gunner...Will and Taylor were married on Nov. 14, 2020... Is partnered with Bland Farms in Glennville, Ga., a Vidalia sweet onion produce farm...Vidalia onions are regarded the Official State Vegetable of Georgia...in April 2023, Smith said, “I’ve always had an appreciation for Georgia’s agriculture, so helping promote Vidalia onions and Bland Farms is truly special.”...For Player’s Weekend in 2018, donned “Smitty” on the back of his uniform...Smith attended Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla. prior to his selection in the 2008 Draft...Graduated from Northgate HS (Ga.) in 2007, and was selected by Tampa Bay in the 40th round, but did not sign...former star NFL wide receiver Calvin “Megatron” Johnson graduated from nearby-Sandy Creek HS, and his final baseball swing resulted in a home run off Smith his senior year.
2023
Smith eclipsed the 10-year threshold for service time in April 2023, as announced by the MLB Players Association, alongside IF Nolan Arenado and OFs Avísail García and Starling Marte...in total, there were 30 players to reach the 10-year milestone last season...Smith posted a 4.40 ERA (28 ER in 57.1 IP) across 60 appearances for the World Series champion Texas Rangers in 2023, striking out 55 batters and walking just 17 batters (4 intentionally)... Served as the primary closer for most of the year, finishing with 22 saves over a team-high 60 games... earned his 100th career save on May 24 at Pittsburgh... Went 1-3 with 19 saves, a 2.70 ERA (12 ER in 40.0 IP) and 42 strikeouts over his first 40 games of the season, but was 1-4 with three saves and an 8.31 ERA (16 ER in 17.1 IP) over his final 18 games...Held left-handed batters to a .177/.227/.226 (11-for-62, .453 OPS) slashline and just one extra-base hit…he ranked among AL pitchers (min. 50 LHB faced) in opp. OPS (sixth), OBP (sixth) and SLG (seventh)…the lone XBH allowed to a left-handed batter was a two-run home run to Shohei Ohtani on June 14.
2021
Led Atlanta with 37 saves and pitched to a 3.44 ERA (26 ER/68.0 IP) in 71 appearances in his ninth major-league season...His 37 saves were tied for the fourth-most in the majors...The 37 saves on the year were the most by an Atlanta reliever since Craig Kimbrel had 47 saves in 2014...Converted 37 saves in 43 opportunities for an 86% conversion rate on the season...Was 1-5 with a 4.74 ERA prior to June 10...Pitched to a 2.70 ERA with 26 saves in 44 appearances thereafter...Held opponents to 11 home runs in 71 appearances (1.46 HR/9) after allowing seven homers in 18 games in 2020 (3.94 HR/9).Went 2-0 with six saves and did not allow a run in 11 appearances during the postseason...His 11 scoreless outings were tied for the fourth-most in major league history....Smith and Tyler Matzek became the third pair of teammates in major league history to record at least 11 scoreless appearances in the same postseason...With his save in Game 4 of the World Series, he joined Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera (1999) as the only pitchers in baseball history to record at least six saves and two wins in a single postseason...Recorded his first career postseason save on 10/9 in Game 2 of the NLDS against Milwaukee...Converted three save opportunities in Games 2, 3, and 4.
2020
In his eighth major-league season and first with Atlanta, went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA (8 ER/16.0 IP) in 18 relief appearances...Made his Braves debut on 8/9 at Philadelphia after missing 13 games on the COVID-related injured list to open the season...Had a 6.23 ERA (6 ER/8.2 IP) in his first nine games of the season and a 2.45 ERA (2 ER/7.1 IP) over his last nine games...Seven of his eight runs allowed came by way of a solo home run...Seven of the 11 total hits he allowed were homers.
POSTSEASON
Appeared in seven games and finished 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA (3 ER/6.0 IP)...Held opponents scoreless in his first five appearances (5.1 IP) with a combined seven strikeouts through the Wild Card Series vs. Cincinnati and LDS vs. Miami...Failed to record a strikeout in two relief appearances (0.2 IP) against Los Angeles in the NLCS while surrendering three runs and a home run.
2019
In his seventh major league season, went 6-0 with a 2.76 ERA (20 ER/65.1 IP) in 63 relief appearances for San Francisco, registering 34 saves in 38 opportunities... Since taking over the closer's role on 6/29/18, Smith has gone 48-for-55 (87.3%) in save opportunities…His 48 saves are the second-most by a Giants left-hander in SF-era history behind Gary Lavelle (127)... Became the second pitcher in baseball's modern era to finish a year 6-0 or better with at least 30 saves...Minnesota's Joe Nathan was 7-0 with 36 saves in 2006... His 34 saves were tied with Cincinnati's Raisel Iglesias for the third-most in the N.L., trailing San Diego's Kirby Yates (41) and Milwaukee's Josh Hader (37)... His save percentage of 89.5 was also third-best in the N.L. behind Yates (93.2%) and Pittsburgh's Felipe Vazquez (90.3%)... Averaged a career-best 13.22 strikeouts per 9.0 innings, the seventh-best mark among N.L. relievers...Struck out at least one batter in 50 of his 63 appearances... Ranked ninth among N.L. relievers in ERA (2.76) and 14th in opponents average against (.196)... Surrendered 10 home runs, the most he's allowed in a season since his rookie year in 2012 (12)... The Giants were 55-8 (.873) when he appeared in a game... Made his eighth-consecutive Opening Day roster and his second with the Giants... Recorded 12 consecutive outs via strikeout, a new SF-era record (since 1958) from 5/12-23, a span of five appearances...His only hit allowed in that span was a home run on 5/18 at ARI... His streak ended, 5/23 vs. ATL, when Tyler Flowers grounded out 6-3... Was named a 2019 N.L. All-Star for the first time in his career after a first half in which he was a perfect 23-for-23 in save chances with a 1.98 ERA in 37 games... Became the first Giants left-handed relief pitcher to make an All-Star team since Gary Lavelle in 1983...Was the Giants' lone All-Star representative... Faced two batters in the 7th inning of the All-Star Game, allowing a solo homer to Texas' Joey Gallo... Blew his first save opportunity of the season in the first game after the All-Star break, 7/12 at MIL...Gave up a leadoff triple to Christian Yelich in the 9th who later scored on a 4-3 putout... Had sealed 23 consecutive saves, the longest such streak by a Giants reliever since Brian Wilson converted 24-straight in 2004... Blew his second save chance in a span of five days, blowing a three-run lead, 7/16 at COL... Gave up a pair of home runs to Trevor Story and Ian Desmond that tied the game at 4-4 in the 9th... Marked his first outing with two homers allowed since September 25, 2013 at Seattle (with Kansas City)... Had his first career MLB plate appearance, 8/11 vs. PHI, hitting a two-run, two-out single to right field off RHP Nick Pivetta... Missed eight games, 9/7-14, due to back inflammation... Ended the season as the MLB leader in win probability added, per Sports Info Solutions...He was the only pitcher in MLB to have been worth five wins... The system calls a game in which a pitcher helped his team's chance to win by at least 6% a shutdown and a pitcher who hurt his team's chance to win by at least 6% a meltdown...Smith had 42 shutdowns and five meltdowns.
2018
Established himself as one of the Giants' best relievers, posting a 2.55 ERA (15er, 53.0ip) with a .194 opponents average and going 14-for-18 in save opportunities...Named the 2018 Willie Mac award winner, becoming the 10th pitcher to win the award and just the third reliever...Struck out 71 batters in 53.0 innings...his 12.06 K/9 ranked as the eighth-best among NL relievers...His .194 opponents average against ranked as the 14thlowest among NL relievers...His 14 saves were tied with Hunter Strickland for the most on the team...Received the loss and a blown save on August 6 vs. Houston after allowing a go-ahead three-run homer to Marwin Gonzalez...marked the first home run that he allowed while pitching for the Giants...his 54.2 innings without allowing a homer was the second-longest such streak in baseball, second only to BOS' Chris Sale...Opponents were 8-for-25 (.320) off him with RISP and two outs...Posted a 6.75 ERA in September after posting a 1.80 ERA from May to August...Was reinstated from the injured list on May 2 after missing 13 months recovering from Tommy John surgery... struck out two batters that day vs. San Diego in what was his first big league game in 567 days.
2017
Missed the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 30...Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure in Los Angeles.
2016
Started the season with Milwaukee, going 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA (9er, 22.0ip), while recording 22 strikeouts, compared to nine walks in 27 contests. Incurred an odd knee injury in spring training with the Brewers while trying to change shoes and missed 52 games from April 2-June 1 with a LCL sprain in his right knee. Was acquired by the Giants from the Brewers July 31 in exchange for minor league RHP Phil Bickford and C Andrew Susac. Appeared in 26 games with San Francisco, going 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA (6er, 18.1ip). Struggled in his first eight outings as a Giant, going 0-1 with an 11.57 (6er, 4.2ip) and a .409 opponents avg. against. Threw 13.2-scoreless innings over his last 18 outings of the season (four hits allowed, seven walks, 20 strikeouts). Was tougher on righties than lefties, holding righties to a .197 avg. against and lefties at .229. Lefties were just 1-for-25 (.040) off him over his final 19 games. His 23 holds were tied for the ninth-most in the National League.
2015
Posted a 7-2 record with a 2.70 ERA (19er, 63.1ip) in 76 relief appearances with Milwaukee. Appeared in 76 games, which was tied for the fifth most in the National League...his 76 appearances led the Brewers for the second straight season. Held opponents to a .220 batting average (52-for-236) with 91 strikeouts in just 63.1 innings pitched. His 91 strikeouts ranked second in the NL among relievers behind the Reds' Aroldis Chapman (116). Ranked fourth among National League relievers in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12.93). Stranded 30 of 44 inherited runners (68.2%). Served a six-game suspension from June 5-10 for having a "foreign substance" on his arm on May 21 at Atlanta (suspension was originally eight games). Signed a 1-year contract with the Brewers on January 15, 2016, avoiding arbitration.
2014
Went 1-3 with a 3.70 ERA and 1 save in a career-high 78 relief appearances during his first season with Milwaukee...Made his first career Opening Day roster...His 78 appearances tied the Pirates' Tony Watson for the National League lead...Ranked third in the NL in holds (30)...Struck out 86 batters in just 65.2 innings.....opponents batted .248...Retired 54 of 78 first batters faced (69.2%)...Stranded 27 of 35 inherited runners (77.1%)...Was named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for May after not surrendering an earned run in 13 outings (13ip, 12h, 2r, 0er, 3bb, 18k, .231 avg)...Notched his first Major League save and only save of the season on 4/13 vs. Pittsburgh...Recorded his only win of the season on 6/14 vs. Cincinnati
2013
Had seven stints with the Royals (4/21, 4/28, 6/25-7/8, 8/4-8/6, 8/10-8/12, 8/16-8/20, 8/25-end)...Went 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 19 games (1 start) with Kansas City...Made his only start in a 10-3 loss on 4/28 vs. Cleveland (4ip, 7h, 6r, 4er, 1bb, 5k, 1hr)...Held opponents to a .202 batting average with 43 strikeouts in just 33.1 innings...Went 6-4 with a 3.03 ERA and 4 saves in 28 games (10 starts) at Triple-A Omaha...Struck out 100 batters in just 89.0 innings at Omaha.....opponents batted .243...Was 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA as a starter (58ip, 21er) and 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA in relief (31ip, 9er).
2012
Will made 16 starts for the Royals in his rookie campaign after beginning the year with Omaha (AAA) as the club's
Opening Day starter...Posted a 1-2 record with a 9.00 ERA (14.0 IP, 14 ER) in his first 3 starts and was optioned to Omaha on June 5...
recalled for good on July 19 and was 5-7 with a 4.64 ERA (75.2 IP, 39 ER) in 13 starts...Recorded his first Major League win in Cleveland on May 29, 8-2, tossing 6.0 innings...On September 11 at Minnesota, Will became the first Royals' rookie to post 7+ shutout innings and 7+ strikeouts
since Kevin Appier on July 20, 1990 vs. Boston (9.0 IP, 10 Ks) in a 9-1 win.
2011
Will pitched the entire season at Northwest Arkansas (AA) and led the Texas League in wins and innings pitched on his way to being named the Royals' Northwest Arkansas Pitcher of the Year...In addition to pacing the circuit in wins and innings, ranked fifth in ERA and 10th in strikeouts...Was 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 14 starts in the official second half of the season, holding batters to a .233 average, and 8-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 starts following the All-Star break, the unofficial second half...Started and pitched 7.0 innings of a combined no-hitter with reliever Kelvin Herrera (2.0 IP) on July 19 at Arkansas...the no-hitter was the first in Naturals franchise history...Named Texas League Pitcher of the Month in August, compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.91 ERA in 6 starts.
2010
Had a busy season pitching for two different organizations and five different teams...Ended the season on the playoff roster for NW Arkansas (AA)...made 2 starts for the Texas League champs,
going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA, allowing 3 runs and 14 hits in 12.0 innings, walking 3 and striking out 10...Began the campaign with Rancho Cucamonga in the Angels organization...also made appearances with the Angels for Salt Lake (AAA) and Arkansas (AA) before being traded to Kansas City with Sean O'Sullivan on July 22...After his acquisition, pitched for Wilmington (A Advanced) and struck out 51 in 54.2 innings while walking just 4...whiffed 32 and did not issue a walk in his fi nal four starts for the Blue Rocks.
2008
Had a strong professional debut in 2008 with Orem (R) in the Pioneer League...following the campaign, was named the third-best prospect in the league according to Baseball America.
