Pittsburgh Pirates Calling Up Canaan Smith-Njigba, Brother Of Ohio State Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Smith-Njigba could make his Major League debut this evening against the St. Louis Cardinals.

As first reported by Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba, the older brother of Ohio State junior wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Per sources: Pirates are calling up Canaan Smith-Njigba and Hoy Park. For Smith-Njigba, assuming he plays, it’ll mark his MLB debut.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) June 13, 2022

The 23-year-old Canaan Smith-Njigba was selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft and was traded to the Pirates in January 2021. He hit .277 with one home run, 19 RBI, 31 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 52 games for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians this season.

Smith-Njigba had reached based safely in 40 of his last 41 games, and his current 29-game on-base streak is tied for the second-longest in the International League this season. That includes going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a triple in the Indians’ 12-7 win over the Columbus Clippers on Saturday.

My big bro is in the Show!!!@CanaanSmith_ Mann no one knows what dad put us through to get here 😂😂 but that’s okay 💯 keep going brother! I’m right behind you

— JSN (@jaxon_smith1) June 13, 2022

Smith-Njigba could make his Major League debut this evening, as Pittsburgh begins a four-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch at Busch Stadium scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET. 

The Pirates have not officially announced Smith-Njigba's promotion, thought it’s expected that fellow outfielder Travis Swaggerty will be sent down in a corresponding move. He’s batting just .111 with four strikeout in five games since he made his debut on June 7.

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