Will Smith
Bats: RThrows: RAge: 30Season: 2025
2025 Season Stats
AVG
.293
OPS
0.880
HR
19
RBI
69
R
72
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51 articles
LAD • Catcher • #16
16 days ago
It looked as though the Dodgers would go quietly in the 11th inning after Miguel Rojas grounded out to third base and Shohei Ohtani bounced out to second. That’s when the 30-year-old backstop gave the Dodgers their first lead of the night, clobbering a 2-0 slider from Shane Bieber for a 366-foot (104.6 mph EV) solo shot that will be remembered forever in Los Angeles. Smith finished the night 2-for-6 with a pair of runs scored and concludes the postseason slashing .276/.364/.414 with a pair of homers and eight RBI.
LAD • Catcher • #16
16 days ago
It looked as though the Dodgers would go quietly in the 11th inning after Miguel Rojas grounded out to third base and Shohei Ohtani bounced out to second. That’s when the 30-year-old backstop gave the Dodgers their first lead of the night, clobbering a 2-0 slider from Shane Bieber for a 366-foot (104.6 mph EV) solo shot that will be remembered forever in Los Angeles. Smith finished the night 2-for-6 with a pair of runs scored and concludes the postseason slashing .276/.364/.414 with a pair of homers and eight RBI.
LAD • Catcher • #16
23 days ago
With the win, the Fall Classic heads back to Los Angeles tied at one apiece. Smith opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning with a two-out RBI single against Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman that plated Freddie Freeman from second base. Gausman then retired the next 17 hitters in order until Smith tagged him for a 404-foot solo shot in the seventh inning, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 advantage at the time. Smith also plated a run with a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning that increased the Dodgers’ edge to 5-1. The 30-year-old backstop is having an outstanding postseason, hitting .314/.400/.400 with a homer and six RBI in 35 plate appearances.
LAD • Catcher • #16
23 days ago
Smith opened the scoring in the top half of the first inning with a two-out RBI single off of Kevin Gausman that plated Freddie Freeman from second base. Gausman then retired the next 17 hitters in order until Smith tagged him for a 404-foot (107.5 mph EV) solo shot in the seventh inning, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 advantage. Smith also plated a run with a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning that increased the Dodgers’ edge to 5-1. The 30-year-old backstop is having an outstanding postseason, hitting .314/.400/.400 with a homer and six RBI in 35 plate appearances.
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 1 month ago
The Dodgers are using the same starting nine for the third straight game, but the order is a little different against the lefty opener in Aaron Ashby. The starting nine: Shohei Ohtani (DH), Mookie Betts (SS), Will Smith (C), Freddie Freeman (1B), Tommy Edman (2B), Teoscar Hernández (RF), Max Muncy (3B), Enrique Hernández (LF) and Andy Pages (CF).
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 1 month ago
Smith will get the nod to start at catcher for the first time in the postseason after appearing off the bench in Game 1 and 2 against the Phillies. Ben Rortvedt will retreat to the bench with Smith handling backstop duties. The full lineup: Shohei Ohtani DH, Mookie Betts SS, Teoscar Hernández RF, Freddie Freeman 1B, Smith C, Enrique Hernández LF, Max Muncy 3B, Andy Pages CF and Tommy Edman 2B.
Source: MLB.com
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 1 month ago
With the victory, Los Angeles takes a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which now shifts to Dodger Stadium for Game 3. Smith delivered the key blow in the Dodgers’ four-run seventh inning, lining a two-run single to left-center off Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering with two outs in the frame. The veteran backstop entered as a pinch-hitter in the sixth after Ben Rortvedt started behind the plate, as the Dodgers continue to monitor his workload following an extended absence due to a right hand fracture.
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 1 month ago
In his first action since suffering a fractured hand last month, Smith played about half of Game 1 on Saturday, going 0-for-2 with a HBP after pinch-hitting for Ben Rortvedt. We assume he’s again available tonight, but it’s Rortvedt in the starting lineup.
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 1 month ago
Smith told reporters he’s available off the bench to pinch-hit and catch but Los Angeles is clearly going to limit his workload for the moment as he returns to game action for the first time since early September due to a hairline fracture in his right hand. Here’s the full lineup that will face Phillies lefty ace Cristopher Sánchez on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park: Shohei Ohtani (DH/P), Mookie Betts (SS), Teoscar Hernández (RF), Freddie Freeman (1B), Tommy Edman (2B), Enrique Hernández (3B), Alex Call (LF), Andy Pages (CF) and Ben Rortvedt (C).
Source: MLB.com
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
Roberts was non-committal though when asked if Smith would be in the team’s starting lineup for Game 1 on Saturday. Either way, it sounds like the hard-hitting backstop is very close to a return and should be back in the Dodgers lineup any day now. The 30-year-old has been shelved since early September due to a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Source: David Vassegh
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
Roberts was non-committal though when asked if Smith would be in the team’s starting lineup for Game 1 on Saturday. Either way, it sounds like the hard-hitting backstop is very close to a return and should be back in the Dodgers’ lineup any day now. The 30-year-old has been shelved since early September due to a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Source: David Vassegh
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
Enrique Hernández is in the lineup after exiting Tuesday’s Game 1 showdown with a minor back issue. There was some speculation that Smith could be an option to return behind the plate at some point in this series but the Dodgers will continue to roll with defensive specialist Ben Rortvedt handling the catching duties. The 30-year-old backstop hasn’t appeared in a game since September 9 while recovering from a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. Here’s the full lineup: Shohei Ohtani (DH), Mookie Betts (SS), Freddie Freeman (1B), Teoscar Hernández (RF), Max Muncy (3B), Andy Pages (CF), Hernández (LF), Miguel Rojas (2B) and Rortvedt (C).
Source: MLB.com
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
Ben Rortvedt and Dalton Rushing will handle catching duties against the Reds, as Smith is still recovering from a fracture in his right hand. Smith presumably would be able to handle DH duties, but those are kind of tied up in L.A.
Source: The Athletic
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
Smith resumed swinging earlier this weekend, but he hasn’t faced live pitching in a couple weeks, which isn’t ideal heading into the playoffs. It sounds like Los Angeles is comfortable with Ben Rortedt handling the pitching staff at the outset of the postseason if Smith isn’t ready. He’s been on the shelf since mid-September recovering from a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Source: Sonja Chen
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
Roberts also said that Ben Rortvedt would be the team’s primary backstop in the event that Smith isn’t able to return. The 30-year-old slugger has been shelved since September 10 due to a hairline fracture in his right hand.
Source: Jack Harris
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
That’s why it has taken Smith longer than anticipated to return what had initially been classified as a right-hand contusion. While he was optimistic overall, Roberts noted that Smith’s availability for the start of the postseason is still “up in the air”.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
LAD • Catcher • #16
about 2 months ago
The latest development explains why Smith has taken longer than originally anticipated to return from what was initially diagnosed as a right-hand contusion. While he was optimistic overall, Roberts noted that Smith’s availability for the start of the postseason is still “up in the air.” It’ll be Ben Rortvedt handling the bulk of the catching duties while Smith is sidelined with top prospect Dalton Rushing in a reserve role.
Source: Fabian Ardaya
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
Roberts added that Smith has yet to resume hitting or throwing, but has been able to catch bullpen sessions. The 30-year-old backstop is working his way back from a right hand contusion and it sounds like the club is content to let Ben Rortvedt handle the catching duties in his absence. He figures to be ready to return at some point during the final week of the regular season in advance of the postseason.
Source: Sonja Chen
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts told reporters on Saturday that Smith just wasn’t improving quickly enough and the team couldn’t continue playing short-handed, so Smith will hit the injured list for at least a week. Chuckie Robinson was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
It’s the third straight game that the 30-year-old backstop has missed due to soreness in his right hand. Ben Rortvedt will once again start behind the dish for the Dodgers and will bat ninth against Logan Webb and the Giants on Saturday evening in San Francisco.
Source: MLB
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
The Dodgers had been hopeful that the hard-hitting backstop would be ready to return on Friday, but he’s still dealing with soreness in his injured right hand. If this continues to linger through the weekend, we may end up seeing a backdated stint on the injured list. Ben Rortvedt will do the catching once again on Friday night and will bat ninth against Giants’ right-hander Justin Verlander.
Source: MLB
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Smith’s hand flared up on him prior to first pitch. Ben Rortvedt will handle the catching duties in his absence. The 30-year-old backstop has been playing through a bone bruise in his right hand that kept him out for five games recently. He’s presumably day-to-day heading into Friday’s series opener against the Giants.
Source: Jack Harris
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
Roberts added that they’re hopeful Smith is able to return to the lineup for Tuesday’s contest. The 30-year-old backstop remains out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive contest on Monday evening, but all indications are he’s close to returning since the club shipped emergency reserve Chuckie Robinson back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Source: Sonja Chen
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
Ben Rortvedt is behind the plate once again with Smith continuing to recover from a right hand contusion that he suffered earlier this week. There’s been zero indication that the 30-year-old backstop will require a trip to the injured list. The Dodgers could certainly use him back as they’ve dropped five consecutive games against the lowly Pirates and Orioles.
Source: MLB.com
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
Ben Rortvedt is behind the plate once again with Smith continuing to recover from a right hand contusion that he suffered earlier this week. There’s been zero indication that the 30-year-old backstop will require a trip to the injured list. The Dodgers could certainly use him back as they’ve dropped five consecutive games against the lowly Pirates and Orioles.
Source: MLB.com
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
The 30-year-old backstop is expected to sit out the entire weekend series. Dalton Rushing will once again start behind the dish in his place and will bat eighth for the Dodgers against Orioles’ right-hander Dean Kremer.
Source: MLB
LAD • Catcher • #16
2 months ago
It’s good news that the 30-year-old backstop won’t be looking at an extended absence, but they’ll have to play short-handed through the weekend with Dalton Rushing and Ben Rortvedt sharing the load behind the plate.
Source: Jack Harris
LAD • Catcher • #16
3 months ago
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed postgame that intial X-rays came back negative for any fractures. It’s a relief for Los Angeles, and fantasy managers, following Smith’s early exit from Wednesday’s contest after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand. It doesn’t sound like he’s facing an extended absence, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see rookie Dalton Rushing handle the catching duties for a couple days.
Source: Fabian Aradaya
LAD • Catcher • #16
3 months ago
The Dodgers broadcast showed Smith being looked at in the dugout after taking a ball off his throwing hand earlier in the contest, which led to Dalton Rushing pinch-hitting for him in the third inning. The 30-year-old elite fantasy backstop will head for further evaluation and imaging to determine the severity of the issue, but the fact the Dodgers are already calling it a contusion is an encouraging sign that initial imaging hasn’t revealed a fracture. There should be an additional update on his status following the contest.
Source: Kirsten Watson