Devin Smeltzer

Devin Paul Smeltzer was born on September 7, 1995, in Voorhees, New Jersey. At the age of nine, he was diagnosed with pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of bladder cancer, which required surgery and chemotherapy. He achieved full remission in 2012. Smeltzer attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School and later played college baseball at Florida Gulf Coast University before transferring to San Jacinto College. In 2015, while playing collegiate summer baseball for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, he was named co-Most Valuable Player of the league’s all-star game and pitched a nine-inning no-hitter.

Smeltzer was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the Dodgers and began his professional career with the Arizona Dodgers. He progressed through the minor league system, playing for the Great Lakes Loons and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2017, and the Tulsa Drillers in 2018. In July 2018, Smeltzer was traded to the Minnesota Twins. He made his major league debut with the Twins on May 28, 2019, where he pitched six shutout innings and recorded seven strikeouts.

Throughout his career, Smeltzer has demonstrated perseverance, regularly contributing to his teams while advocating for pediatric cancer survivors through his ‘Catch Cancer Looking’ apparel, with all proceeds benefiting Katie’s Krusaders. He has had multiple stints in the major leagues with the Minnesota Twins (2019-2022) and Miami Marlins (2023), as well as playing in various minor and international leagues. He achieved a significant milestone in 2023 by pitching the first no-hitter in Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp history. Smeltzer continues his professional baseball journey, having recently signed with the Detroit Tigers organization in 2025.