Jake Smolinski

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Jake Smolinski

|image = Jake Smolinski 2018 Nashville.jpg

|caption = Smolinski with the Nashville Sounds in 2018

|width =

|team =

|number =

|position = Left fielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|2|9}}

|birth_place = Rockford, Illinois, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 7

|debutyear = 2014

|debutteam = Texas Rangers

|debut2league = KBO

|debut2date = July 11

|debut2year = 2019

|debut2team = NC Dinos

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=June 20

|finalyear=2018

|finalteam=Oakland Athletics

|final2league=KBO

|final2date=October 1

|final2year=2019

|final2team=NC Dinos

|statleague = MLB

|statyear =

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .235

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 16

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 67

|stat2league = KBO

|stat2year =

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .226

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 14

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 59

|teams =

Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2018}})
NC Dinos ({{mlby|2019}})

}}

Jacob Michael Smolinski (born February 9, 1989) is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics, and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.

Amateur career

Born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, Smolinski attended Boylan Catholic High School where he also starred in football as a quarterback.{{cite web|url=http://www.ihsfw.com/links/Q-R_folder/Rockford_Boylan.html|title=IHSFW.com's Boylan Catholic Home Page|work=ihsfw.com|access-date=September 29, 2015}} In baseball, Smolinski was a shortstop and pitcher. As a senior, Smolinski batted .441 with 13 home runs and 49 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://ssbaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=622929|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130426/http://ssbaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=622929|archive-date=2016-03-04|title=One Of Illinois' Best: Jake Smolinski}}

Professional career

=Washington Nationals=

Smolinski was drafted as a left fielder and third baseman by the Washington Nationals in the second round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, out of high school.

=Florida Marlins=

On November 10, 2008, he was traded to the Florida Marlins along with Emilio Bonifacio and P. J. Dean for Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3694827|title=Florida Marlins trade Josh Willingham, Scott Olsen to Washington Nationals|work=ESPN.com|date=November 11, 2008|access-date=September 29, 2015}}

=Texas Rangers=

He signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in December 2013.{{cite web|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/texas-rangers-add-minor-league-outfielder.html/|title=Texas Rangers add minor-league outfielder Jake Smolinski|work=Texas Rangers Blog|access-date=September 29, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001072439/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/12/texas-rangers-add-minor-league-outfielder.html/|archive-date=October 1, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Smolinski was called up to the majors for the first time on July 7, 2014.

=Oakland Athletics=

Smolinski was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on June 21, 2015. He declared free agency on October 15, 2018.

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On November 15, 2018, Smolinski signed a minor-league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-nov-6-21-2018/|title=Minor League Transactions: Nov 6 - Nov 21|work=Baseball America|first=Matt|last=Eddy|date=November 22, 2018|access-date=November 22, 2018}} On July 2, 2019, Smolinski was granted a release from Triple-A Durham to pursue options in Korea.{{cite web |title= Korea's NC Dinos Sign Christian Friedrich, Jake Smolinski |date=July 2, 2019 |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/07/koreas-nc-dinos-sign-christian-friedrich-nearing-deal-with-jake-smolinski.html |publisher= MLB Trade Rumors |access-date= July 2, 2019}}

=NC Dinos=

On July 2, 2019, Smolinski signed with the NC Dinos of the KBO League.{{cite web |title= Jake Smolinski: Headed to KBO |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/jake-smolinski-headed-to-kbo/amp/ |work= CBS Sports |access-date= July 2, 2019}} He became a free agent following the season.