The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without star catcher Will Smith since mid-June after the three-time All-Star suffered a neck injury.
Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith celebrates with infielder Mookie Betts and infielder Max Muncy after hitting a two run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Los Angeles Dodgers have accumulated the best record in Major League Baseball despite missing a core member of their team for more than a month. Catcher Will Smith, a 2025 World Series hero and eight-year veteran, suffered an inflamed disc in his neck in June. The injury wasSmith has begun hitting in batting cages and throwing, but has yet to face live pitching and resume catching.
He will also have to go on a rehab assignment before the Dodgers can seriously consider putting him back behind the plate..
“What he does behind the plate with the pitches is hard. Hopefully he can come back soon. I don’t know about people’s timelines and whatnot. I just see him and pray for him and hopefully he’s okay just for his personal well-being.
Obviously as a Dodger, we want him back. ” Smith is one of baseball's most impactful catchers at the plate, as he hit .296/.404/.497 in 2025 with 17 home runs. Through 52 games in 2026, Smith was batting .249 with six home runs before the injury. Smith's presence has been missed by the Dodgers, who will need their star catcher for the postseason.
However, Betts told R.org that most of his conversations with Smith are about what's going on beyond the diamond.
“When I talk to him, it’s just normal life conversation,” Betts said. “I try not to bring it up, I’m sure he gets enough of how long he’s out and we want you back and all those other things. So I try not to be that guy.
"Just try and be a normal dude that talks to him and see how his family’s doing, or talk about golf, or whatever else outside of his injury. ” In Smith's stead, second-year catcher Dalton Rushing has made a majority of starts for the Dodgers.
The young player has made headlines for bothThe 25-year-old hit a 0-for-10 skid in his final four games before the All-Star break, but will get a chancePatrick Warren is a graduate of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and has experience covering the Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Lakers and USC Trojans. Additionally, he spent time working as a staff writer for the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns. Patrick hails from Chattanooga, TN and now lives in Santa Monica.
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