Pirates A to Z: Canaan Smith-Njigba started Opening Day, but played only 15 MLB games

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Canaan Smith-Njigba

Position: Outfielder

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Age: 24

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 230 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Batted .125/.216/.219 with one double, one triple and five RBIs in 15 games.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2027.

Acquired: From the New York Yankees, along with pitchers Roansy Contreras and Miguel Yajure and infielder Maikol Escotto, in exchange for pitcher Jameson Taillon in January 2021.

This past season: Smith-Njigba’s rookie season was disrupted only three games after making his major league debut, after an awkward fall from an outfield collision with Bryan Reynolds resulted in a broken bone in his right wrist.

After hitting only one home run in 52 games at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2022, the barrel-chested Smith-Njigba arrived at spring training intent on showing that he could be an offensive force for the Pirates and win the competition for the fourth outfielder spot on the Opening Day roster.

“The power is there,” Smith-Njigba said. “The (exit) velo is there. I just want everyone to see it so there’s no more questions about it. The guys know. Everyone knows. But I’ve got to let everyone else know.”

Ranked the Pirates’ No. 20 prospect by Baseball American and No. 28 by MLB Pipeline, Smith-Njigba wanted to separate himself from a crowded list of outfield candidates, which included Connor Joe, Cal Mitchell, Travis Swaggerty and Ryan Vilade.

“The competition is really with myself, becoming an everyday ballplayer, performing every day and just staying consistent,” Smith-Njigba said. “It’s not really about competing with others. I know if I do what I have to do, my game speaks for itself. I get on base. You’ve got to get on base to score runs. Not just getting on base — getting on base, obviously, helps — but running, throwing, playing defense and being a team guy. I’m trying to be one of the leaders in the clubhouse, too, trying to help the team win.”

Canaan Smith-Njigba blasts off!

That's three homers in 47 at-bats this spring for the @Pirates' No. 28 prospect. pic.twitter.com/yyE4lsCuQ4

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 28, 2023

Smith-Njigba batted .333 (16 for 48) with three home runs and a team-best 14 RBIs in 20 Grapefruit League games, including a three-run opposite field shot against the Minnesota Twins in the spring finale. Smith-Njigba took advantage of his lefty bat and Andrew McCutchen’s sore right elbow that limited him to the designated hitter role to earn a spot not only on the 26-man active roster but in the Opening Day starting lineup.

It was the one time last spring that Smith-Njigba outshined his younger brother, Jaxon, a wide receiver from Ohio State who was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

"You're not only my brother, but you're my best friend."

MLB player Canaan Smith-Njigba had some words of encouragement for his brother Jaxon after he was drafted by the @Seahawks.@jaxon_smith1 | @CanaanSmith_ | @Pirates pic.twitter.com/SxzWja8qQ5

— NFL (@NFL) May 1, 2023

With the Cincinnati Reds starting right-hander Hunter Greene, the pitching matchup played in Smith-Njigba’s favor over Joe, who bats righty. Pirates manager Derek Shelton emphasized Smith-Njigba earned the honor to start in right field and bat fifth, between McCutchen and Ke’Bryan Hayes.

“He won the competition to be on the club with the way he performed in spring training,” Shelton said. “We have to see what he does and how he does it. As of right now, he’s going to get at-bats. We’ll go from there. And with a lot of guys on our club right now, we’ll go from there and make decisions. With the spring he had, he deserved to be here.”

Smith-Njigba set out to prove Shelton right for starting him.

“It means everything and more,” Smith-Njigba said. “I’m just thankful that Skip trusts me. He knows I’m going to do everything I can to help this team win and do what I need to do. I’m just very thankful to keep it going so he can pencil me in more. I wasn’t surprised because I feel like my game plays up here. I feel like I can be an everyday player, especially with righties pitching. I feel like I have the advantage of being a lefty hitter. It all works out. Whatever Skip puts in the lineup and he needs to do, that’s his team. I’m just going to do what I need to do.”

Smith-Njigba went 1 for 5 with a single to right in the third inning, three strikeouts and grounded into a double play in the opener, a 5-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Looks like Jaxon Smith-Njigba is at Fenway tonight to watch his brother, Canaan, who is on the Pirates. pic.twitter.com/AxvG0GyjRj

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) April 3, 2023

Canaan Smith-Njigba, the brother of Ohio State WR and draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba just crushed a ball off the Green Monster for his first career RBI.

Jaxon is in attendance to witness the moment.

???? @YoungBucsPIT | @jaxon_smith1 | @CanaanSmith_ pic.twitter.com/ZPBA72fHSv

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 3, 2023

In his third game, on April 3 at Boston, Smith-Njigba went 1 for 2 with a two-run double off Fenway Park’s famed Green Monster to score Ji-Man Choi and Hayes for his first career RBIs in the first inning of a 7-6 win.

As much as he wanted to show he could be an everyday player, Smith-Njigba didn’t handle his role as a bench player and pinch hitter very well. After getting a hit in three of his first five games, Smith-Njigba only recorded one more over the next nine games. He went on an 0-for-15 funk, going six games without a hit between April 15-23.

The Pirates optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis on April 26, with Shelton citing the need to get Smith-Njigba regular at-bats.

“It wasn’t really fair up here,” Shelton said. “He made the club out of spring training and very much deserved to and then it was inconsistent at-bats. What we felt when we sent him out, the message was, we need him to play every day. That’s what he was doing down there and he was just more consistent.”

RBI Double by OF Canaan Smith-Njigba @indyindians #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/NpvNQ1qGoZ

— Pittsburgh Pirates Player Development Report (@PGHplayerDev) September 24, 2023

Smith-Njigba didn’t get another MLB at-bat. He hit .280/.366/.473 with 28 doubles, 15 homers and 74 RBIs with 21 stolen bases in 105 games at Indianapolis but had a 30.3% strikeout rate.

The Pirates recalled Smith-Njigba on June 9 but he appeared in only one game, replacing Reynolds in the eighth inning and playing right field in a 14-7 win over the New York Mets.

Pittsburgh Pirates Canaan Smith-Njigba looking great in his hitting assessment this week at Driveline ???? pic.twitter.com/459GchJOZ4

— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) November 8, 2023

The future: Given that the Pirates designated Mitchell and Swaggerty for assignment, that Smith-Njigba remains on the 40-man roster is about as good of a sign as he can expect.

He was surpassed on the depth chart, as the Pirates promoted Henry Davis, Joshua Palacios and Miguel Andujar. And his path to the majors could be blocked if the Pirates move Jack Suwinski back to right field next season and keep Joe or Palacios as the fourth outfielder.

That makes Smith-Njigba a trade candidate or one who has to hope the Pirates make a trade to clear some room for him to make another run at a spot on the Opening Day roster.