Justin Smoak is a former professional baseball player who played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on December 5, 1986, in Goose Creek, South Carolina, and attended the University of South Carolina, where he played college baseball for the Gamecocks.
Smoak was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 2010. He played for the Rangers for three seasons before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2012. Smoak played for the Mariners for four seasons before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015.
During his career, Smoak was known for his power hitting and solid defensive skills at first base. He hit a career-high 38 home runs and had 90 RBIs in 2017, earning him a spot on the American League All-Star team. Smoak also won a Gold Glove award in 2018 for his defensive play at first base.
Smoak played his final season in the MLB in 2020, splitting time between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants. He announced his retirement from baseball in February 2021.
Throughout his career, Smoak had a batting average of .229, hit 196 home runs, and had 644 RBIs. He played in a total of 1,301 games over 11 seasons in the MLB.
Off the field, Smoak was known for his charitable work, including his support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also started the Justin Smoak Foundation, which aims to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth in his hometown of Goose Creek, South Carolina.
Overall, Justin Smoak had a successful career in the MLB, earning accolades for his power hitting and defensive play. He will be remembered not only for his contributions on the field but also for his charitable work off the field.
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