Family Reunion: Mariners Claim Brother of Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
A pair of brothers reaching the professional level is rare enough as is, but doing so in the same city is even more special.
Fans in the Emerald City are already familiar with Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the 2023 first-round pick who showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie season.
Now, another member of the family is coming to town as Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners claimed outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jaxon's older brother, off waivers on Wednesday.
© Steven Bisig, USA TODAY
The 24-year-old Canaan Smith-Njigba was a 2017 fourth-round pick by the New York Yankees before he went to play college baseball at Arkansas.
After playing for the Yankees' various minor-league teams, the team then traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates in January of 2021. Canaan Smith-Njigba has been with the Pirates organization ever since, making his major league debut in June of 2022 and playing 18 games with the team over the past two seasons.
One player who seems very pleased with the signing is Mariners all-star outfielder Julio Rodríguez. The 2022 American League Rookie of the Year quickly took to Instagram to give Canaan Smith-Njigba a warm welcome to Seattle.
Rodríguez has already met with JSN when he attended the Seahawks' New Year's Eve home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where the receiver took the time to meet with the MLB star's whole family.
From growing up in Texas to professional athletes in Seattle, the two brothers are back together once more.
