INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – It’s pretty simple to see how 23-year-old Canaan Smith-Njigba earned his first Major League promotion this week with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Throughout the season, despite ups and downs, two constants remain for the six-foot, 215 pound outfielder — playing hard, and confidence.
On at least a handful of occasions, Smith-Njigba stretched an easy single into a hustle-double. He’s also consistently made the correct base running decision, and is rarely, if ever thrown out on a play like that. On the other side, he’s made several diving plays, after getting a good read on a ball defensively.