Will Smith Makes His Return to the Area After Lacking Extra Than Three Months

Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith took a serious step towards returning to the crew Tuesday, starting a rehab project with Triple-A Oklahoma City after lacking greater than three months due to a neck harm.

Will Smith Begins Rehab Assignment

Smith began behind the plate for Oklahoma City in opposition to El Paso and was scheduled to bat second and catch for 5 innings. His return to sport motion is a vital second for the Dodgers as they put together for the ultimate stretch of the season and the postseason.

Smith has not performed since June 5. He was positioned on the injured record one week later with neck irritation, however the harm was later recognized as an infected disk in his neck.

The Dodgers shut Smith down earlier than the commerce deadline whereas he recovered. He finally resumed baseball actions on the finish of July, opening the door for Tuesday’s rehab look.

The membership has needed to discover different choices at catcher throughout Smith’s lengthy absence. Los Angeles added Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia across the Aug. 3 commerce deadline after Dalton Rushing additionally suffered an elbow harm, TBL reported.

Those strikes gave the Dodgers extra depth, however Smith’s return has remained the larger aim. The crew is anticipated to watch out with him and concentrate on getting him wholesome reasonably than dashing him again.

Dodgers Hope Will Smith Is Ready for October

According to the NY Post, Smith was having a much less productive season earlier than the harm, hitting .249 with a .338 on-base proportion and a .382 slugging proportion throughout 52 video games. Still, the Dodgers have loads of causes to need their All-Star catcher again.

Smith is coming off a robust 2025 season, when he hit .296 with a .404 on-base proportion and a .497 slugging proportion. He additionally performed a key position throughout Los Angeles’ World Series run, catching each inning of the crew’s seven-game victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

His protection has been particularly priceless to the Dodgers. Los Angeles pitchers have posted a 3.02 ERA when throwing to Smith, in contrast with a 3.67 ERA for the crew’s catchers general.

For now, the Dodgers will watch how Smith responds to his rehab project. If there are not any setbacks, he ought to have time to work his means again earlier than October.