Cade Smith

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Note: This page is for pitcher Cade Smith who made his debut in 2024; for the minor leaguer of the same name, click here.

Cade Jared Benjamin Smith

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Canadian pitcher Cade Smith was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 16th round of the 2017 amateur draft but declined their offer in order to go to college at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. While in high school, he had played for the Canadian junior national team, including at the 2017 U18 Baseball World Cup in Thunder Bay, ON. He posted a 3.68 ERA in three outings and had a three-inning save against Australia. He played three seasons at Hawaii, although the last of these, 2020, was cut short after 5 games by the COVID-19 pandemic which shut down collegiate sports - among other aspects of society. One of the other collateral effects of the pandemic was to reduce the 2020 amateur draft, for which he was eligible, to just five rounds, leaving him undrafted. However, he wanted to get his professional career under way, and he decided to sign with the Cleveland Indians for a minimal bonus on June 18th rather than return to Hawaii for his senior year.

He began his pro career when minor league baseball resumed in 2021, joining the Lynchburg Hillcats of what was called Low-A East that year only, before finishing the season with the Lake County Captains of High-A Central. Between the two teams, he went 2-3, 3.98 in 33 games, all in relief, also recording 5 saves. He struck out 68 batters in 43 innings. In 2022, he began the season with Lake County, now back in the Midwest League, and finished it at the AA level with the Akron Rubber Ducks of the Eastern League. His combined mark was 4-2, 2.93 in 44 games, with 18 saves. His strikeout was once again outstanding, with 99 Ks in 61 1/3 innings.

Before the 2023 season, he was named to the roster of Team Canada for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He pitched twice in the tournament, giving up 2 earned runs in one inning. He spent that year in the minors, splitting his time between AA Akron and the AAA Columbus Clippers. In 47 games, all in relief, he went 5-3, 4.02 with 15 saves. He then made the now Cleveland Guardians' roster out of spring training in 2024 and made his debut on March 30th, pitching two scoreless innings in relief against the Oakland Athletics in a 12-3 win. He faced a total of seven batters, walked one, and struck out five. He had an excellent rookie season, making 74 appearances in relief and finishing at 6-1, 1.91 as the main set-up man for closer Emmanuel Clase. He also struck out 105 batters in 75 1/3 innings. He then went 1-0, 1.42 in 5 games against the Detroit Tigers in the Division Series, allowing just 2 hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out 2 batters. However, he could not keep it up in the ALCS against the New York Yankees as he gave up 3 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

In 2025, his role changed midway through the season when Clase was suspended for participating in an illegal betting scheme, and he had to take over his job as the team's closer. He had another excellent season, going 8-5, 2.93 in 76 games, with 16 saves. His strikeout numbers were almost identical to those in his rookie season, with 104 Ks in 73 2/3 innings. He returned to the postseason and was used in all three games of the Wild Card Series against the Tigers, not giving up a single hit in 3 1/3 innings and picking up a win. He then declined Team Canada's to play for them in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but got off to another strong start in 2026, his role as closer now an unquestioned fact. He was named the Reliever of the Month in the American League in May when he posted an ERA of 1.32 with 25 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. He recorded 13 saves - one in each of his 13 outings that month -, and as a result finished the month leading the AL with 20.

Notable Achievements[edit]

  • AL All-Star (2026)

Further Reading[edit]

  • Mandy Bell: "Constant Cade a trusty stalwart in Guards' playoff 'pen", mlb.com, October 16, 2024. [1]

Related Sites[edit]

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