Smoltz was an eight-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award in 1996. He was a key member of the Braves' "Big Three" pitching staff, along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, which helped the team win 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005. He was also the only pitcher in MLB history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves.
Smoltz was known for his durability and ability to pitch in both starting and relief roles. He was an effective starter early in his career, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2000, he transitioned to the bullpen and became one of the most dominant closers in the game. He returned to the starting rotation in 2005 and had a successful comeback, winning 44 games over the next four seasons.
Smoltz was also an excellent hitter, batting .333 in the 1992 World Series and .364 in the 1996 NLCS. He was the first pitcher in MLB history to hit a home run in the World Series, and he holds the record for most home runs by a pitcher in a career (35).
Smoltz retired in 2009 after a remarkable career that saw him win 213 games, save 154 games, and record 3,084 strikeouts. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to be inducted as both a starter and a reliever.
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