Will Smith ‘Crucial’ To Dodgers’ Success

Will Smith completed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City and is now set to make his long-awaited return to the Los Angeles Dodgers when active rosters expand on Tuesday.

“It’s crucial. The experience, the calmness in the box, the managing of the pitching staff, all that stuff is crucial,” manager Dave Roberts said of Smith’s importance to the Dodgers as the postseason nears.

Smith has not played in a game since June 5. He initially was projected to miss just a day or two upon getting scratched from the lineup because of neck stiffness, but his injury was more serious than first believed and it took Smith a while to become pain-free.

Smith wasn’t at his best offensively before the injury, but his presence should help stabilize a Dodgers lineup that recently lost Andy Pages to a fractured left hand.

The three-time All-Star’s impact should also be felt on the pitching staff. Prior to Smith being sidelined, Dodgers pitchers led all of baseball with a 3.03 ERA. Since his injury, that number has jumped to a 4.09 collective ERA, good for just 14th in MLB.

“He’s just a stabilizer,” Roberts said of Smith. “It’s great that we have Dalton (Rushing) and get a lot of opportunities, and after that we’ve had four different catchers trying to assimilate and learn the pitchers. So to get that stability back is huge.

“Not surprising, but all four of those other guys did the best they could. To have that consistency with Will is something special.”

In Smith’s absence, the Dodgers primarily relied on Dalton Rushing as their starting catcher. But he, too, suffered an injury, leading to Eliezer Alfonzo, Hunter Feduccia, Chuckie Robinson and Ben Rortvedt receiving opportunities behind the plate.

Robinson has since been released, while Alfonzo is currently with Oklahoma City. When Smith is activated from the 60-day injured list, L.A. could part ways with one of Feduccia and Rortvedt on their active roster, or choose to carry three catchers.

Will Smith’s 2026 season

Smith was in the midst of his worst offensive season prior to the neck injury, hitting .249/.338/.382 with five doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI across 52 games.

Smith appeared in five games with the Comets during his rehab assignment, going 4-for-16 with two doubles, one home run and two RBI and four strikeouts.