Pirates A to Z: Canaan Smith-Njigba ready to show he's a big league outfielder

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Canaan Smith-Njigba

Position: Outfield

Throws: Right

Bats: Left

Age: 22

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 240 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Has not played in majors.

Acquired: In a trade from the New York Yankees, along with Roansy Contreras, Miguel Yajure and Maikol Escotto, for Jameson Taillon in January 2020.

This past season: Although right-handers Contreras and Yajure were closer to the majors and made an earlier impact, Smith-Njigba saw the trade to the Pirates as a golden opportunity.

Smith-Njigba played at Class A Charleston in 2019, where he batted .307/.405/.465 with 32 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 74 RBIs while drawing 74 walks against 108 strikeouts. But he knew his path to playing in the outfield would be harder with the Yankees.

“I know my value,” Smith-Njigba told Baseball America. “I’m just happy another team saw it, and I’m happy the Pirates picked me up and saw my worth.”

Drafted in the fourth round as a catcher by the Yankees out of Rockwall-Heath (Texas) High School, Smith-Njigba is a convert to the outfield. But his biggest strength is his patience at the plate and advanced pitch selection.

Smith-Njigba batted .274/.398/.406 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 40 RBIs in 66 games at Double-A Altoona, despite missing six weeks with a thigh injury. He also drew 45 walks while striking out 66 times. He worked with Curve hitting coach David Newhan on hitting with more authority and tapping into his opposite-field power. The Pirates promoted Smith-Njigba to Triple-A Indianapolis in September, where he went 2 for 21 in seven games.

Canaan Smith-Njigba hits bombs. pic.twitter.com/0lB1nBjw3q

— Young Bucs (@YoungBucsPIT) May 15, 2021

That the Pirates sent Smith-Njigba to the Arizona Fall League was a sign that they were intrigued with his bat. He slashed .298/.452/.456 with six doubles, a home run and two RBIs in 18 games for the Peoria Javelinas, drawing 15 walks with 18 strikeouts.

Smith-Njigba made news when he charged the mound after being hit by a pitch by Scottsdale Scorpions Josh Winckowski. The Boston Red Sox prospect had hit Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales the day before, so Smith-Njigba took exception to a high-and-inside beanball and threw two punches to clear the benches.

Canaan Smith-Njigba and Josh Winckowski were at the center of an Arizona Fall League brawl this afternoon. @jnorris427 has more: https://t.co/ggRT3rHZIy pic.twitter.com/7R8xkfWMXY

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) November 7, 2021

That didn’t stop the Pirates from promoting Smith-Njigba to the 40-man roster last Friday to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Smith-Njigba has a “really interesting combination of skills.”

“He has always gotten on base at a good rate, sees pitches really well, controls the strike zone,” Cherington said. “There’s a good athlete in there and he’s a big, strong kid. Really encouraged about some of the swing adjustments and even just approach adjustments he’s made, particularly towards the end of the Altoona season as he came off the injury and then it certainly carried into the fall. He hits the ball hard, he makes good decisions, he controls the strike zone; it’s just been getting the ball off the ground, and we’re seeing more of that recently. He’s making a an intentional effort to do that. He’s also really worked on his conditioning and he’s moving really well as an outfielder.”

Canaan Smith-Njigba doing his thing with another double in the 6th. Third hit of the day for the Pirates prospect pic.twitter.com/YsmrfPYlxo

— Prospects Worldwide (@ProspectsWorldW) November 2, 2021

The future: Smith-Njigba is likely to start next season at Indianapolis, where he will get a chance to play every day, possibly alongside fellow 40-man additions in Jack Suwinski and Travis Swaggerty.

The Pirates want to see the powerfully built Smith-Njigba tap into his power potential, so he’s working on becoming bigger, stronger and faster in the offseason.

“I know it’s cliché, but it’s the honest truth,” Smith-Njigba told Baseball America. “Just being ready to be a big leaguer. That’s just something that I’m going to take into this offseason. I’m going to train like I’m going to the big leagues next year.”