The Los Angeles Dodgers can finally anticipate Will Smith’s return to the starting lineup. Manager Dave Roberts told Dodgers Insider that Smith will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on August 25.
This piece of news has been the most encouraging update on the Dodgers’ starting catcher. Smith has been on the injured list since June 8 with an inflamed disc in his neck. The injury, once believed to require a minimal stint, has resulted in a lengthy absence.
Roberts didn’t provide specifics on how long the rehab assignment will be. Considering that Smith has been out for more than two months, it will likely be more than a few days.
The Dodgers are hoping to get Smith back in the first week of September. It will be easier, as the club will be able to carry an extra hitter for the season’s final month.
Dodgers Get Encouraging Will Smith Injury Update
GettyWill Smith should return to the Dodgers lineup in time for the postseason. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Will Smith has been out since June 6 with an inflamed disc in his neck. Coupled with the injury to backup catcher Dalton Rushing, the club’s catcher depth has been severely tested.
The team is currently relying on Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt behind the plate. The Dodgers acquired both catchers via trade ahead of the deadline. They’ve also tried Chuckie Robinson and Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. at different points of the season.
Getting Smith back strengthens the Dodgers’ lineup. He’s very familiar with the club’s high-priced pitching staff, spearheaded by their $1.4 billion rotation. In addition, he provides a key middle-of-the-order bat.
His numbers aren’t up to their usual standard at the plate. He’s currently slashing .249/.338/.382 with eight home runs and a 105 wRC+ in 2026.
But the underlying metrics suggest his exit velocity and launch angle data were more akin to his career norms. Statcast’s expected metrics credit him with a .275 xBA, .494 xSLG, and a .386 xwOBA. And adding that kind of bat makes the Dodgers more dangerous in the postseason.
What the Will Smith Injury News Means for the Dodgers
Getting Will Smith back in their lineup gives the Dodgers a stronger chance of clinching their third consecutive World Series championship. Paul Hembekides of ESPN labeled Smith as a “force multiplier” and said the team is unlikely to three-peat without him.
The Dodgers are pulling out all the stops to build a dynasty, leveraging their financial muscle and deep farm system to produce the best team they can put on paper. That’s the position they’re in after signing two-way star Shohei Ohtani to a heavily deferred $700 million contract.
That’s why they targeted Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline. Not because they needed him, but because they can. The additional bonus is that trading for Skubal prevented rival clubs from making that move.
Smith’s return pushes the Dodgers back into MLB’s Goliath, the team that everyone so desperately tries to beat. In the National League, Los Angeles will have to contend with the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves. But they could avoid at least one of those teams if they can secure a Wild Card round bye.
Dodgers Give Encouraging Will Smith Injury Update During Pirates Series