A’s Chris Smith relishing return to majors
Chris Smith is one American Sign Language class away from completing his sociology degree at UC Riverside.
After a six-year hiatus from the majors, including a stint out of baseball, Smith, 35, is intent on relishing every relief appearance he makes.
Manager Bob Melvin appreciates that Smith, who has started 152 of his 301 career minor-league games, can oscillate between short and long appearances if necessary.
Figuring his playing career was over, Smith planned to earn his degree and apply for UC Riverside’s open pitching coach job.
After a strong showing with the Wingnuts, he signed in 2014 with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League — a higher level of competition — and went 6-0 with a 2.15 ERA in eight starts.
Smith, a non-roster invitee with the A’s this spring, was 6-8 with a 3.93 ERA in 22 starts at Triple-A Nashville before getting called up.
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