Tag: Canaan Smith-Njigba

2023 NFL Draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s brother plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Did you know 2023 NFL Draft prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba has a brother that plays in the MLB?

As the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway, former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will soon know where his professional career will start.

He won’t be the first member of his family to play in a professional sport, however.

His brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, is an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft and was later traded to Pittsburgh in 2021.

The Pirates don’t have a game scheduled for Thursday night since they played earlier in the day, so the elder Smith-Njigba will most likely get to watch his brother get drafted to an NFL team (barring a shocking fall out of the first round).

The Pirates are in the midst of a stellar season in the MLB, so maybe some of that good luck will fall upon the younger Smith-Njigba as he prepares to join his first NFL franchise.

You can bet his older brother will be cheering him on during that major moment.

Brother of Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets call to the majors

Canaan Smith-Njigba looks to make his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

We all know how extraordinarily talented Ohio State receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is. We’ve been a witness since the fall of 2020 when he hauled in a ridiculous tightrope catch as a freshman against Nebraska. And of course the record-breaking performance in the Rose Bowl earlier this year. But apparently, Jaxon isn’t the only one in the Smith-Njigba family with athletic prowess.

Jaxon’s older brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, has been called up to the major leagues today. The elder brother has been with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates have liked what they have seen so far and will give the outfielder a chance to prove he belongs.

Assuming he plays, this will be Canaan Smith-Njigba’s MLB debut.

Smith-Njigba has earned his shot. So far in 184 plate appearances, the prospect is hitting .277 with 15 doubles, three triples, 1 home run, 19 RBI, and a .387 on-base percentage.

Good luck to the older brother of the Ohio State star. Clearly, the athletic genes run deep in the Smith-Njigba family.

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