The Braves may not be in the Fall Classic this year, but a member of the club’s World Series team from a year ago is back on the big stage. Former closer Will Smith made the Astros roster.
News: LHP Will Smith is on the #Astros World Series roster, replacing Seth Martinez. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 28, 2022
On the season, Smith posted an unsightly 4.38 ERA and 5.22 FIP over 37.0 innings pitched with the Braves. Things have improved with Houston, though. Since joining the Astros, Smith has pitched to the tune of a 3.27 ERA and 2.66 FIP over 22.0 innings. For the entire postseason, however, the veteran reliever had been left off the roster.
Smith is one of the most polarizing figures in recent franchise history. Depending on how you look at it, he either stole or earned the three-year, $40 million contract he signed prior to the 2020 season. On the one hand, Smith severely underperformed for much of his tenure in Atlanta. However, on the other hand, he turned into Mariano Rivera and didn’t allow a single run in 11 appearances in October en route to a World Series. He’ll always be remembered fondly for that.
There were some pretty high highs and very low lows, but Braves Country wishes him nothing but the best after being traded to the Astros before the deadline.Â
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Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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