WILL SMITH NEWS

Sitting out Friday Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Friday's contest with the Diamondbacks, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Smith is off to a scorching-hot start to the season, slashing .391/.464/.913 through his first six games with at least one hit in each of them. He'll get a day off Friday, allowing Austin Barnes to start behind the dish and bat ninth.

APRIL 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers again in win Smith went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a run-scoring double in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Rockies.

Impact Smith left the yard for the third game in a row and appears to have settled in just fine after moving up to the No. 3 spot in the order in 2023 after primarily batting cleanup last season. He's recorded at least one hit while starting in five of the Dodgers' first six games and is tied for the MLB lead in RBI with 10.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Smacks two-run shot in win Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Monday's victory over the Rockies.

Impact Smith has secured at least one hit in each of his first four starts of the season and has home runs in back-to-back games. The 2016 first-round pick has slashed at least .250/.335/.465 in each of his first four MLB seasons and remains one of the more consistent offensive catchers in the league.

APRIL 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blasts first homer Smith went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to Arizona.

Impact Smith sat out Saturday's contest but was back behind the plate Sunday, batting out of the No. 3 slot. He produced the Dodgers' only run of the game with his first-inning solo shot off Zach Davies. Smith is off to a strong start to the campaign, starting in three of Los Angeles' first four contests and posting a .455/.500/.818 slash line with the home run, five RBI and a 2:2 B:K over 14 plate appearances.

APRIL 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't catch Saturday Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday that Smith will not catch Saturday's contest against the Diamondbacks, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.

Impact Roberts doesn't want Smith to catch three games in a row in the early part of the year. That means Austin Barnes will be behind the plate for the Dodgers on Saturday, and Roberts says they'll have more right-handed options in the lineup. Smith could end up being the DH, but it's also very possible he'll get a day off after playing in the first two contests.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plates four runs on Opening Day Smith went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and four RBI in Thursday's 8-2 win against Arizona.

Impact Smith's first at-bat of the campaign was about as professional as they come, as he took a Zac Gallen offspeed offering the other way for a double in the first inning. In the third, the backstop came up with runners on second and third and two outs, and he came through with a clutch single to right field to tie the score 2-2. Smith later gave Los Angeles its first lead with a two-run single in the fifth inning. The Opening Day performance served as a strong reminder of Smith's status as one of the top hitting catchers in the league. He should have plenty of opportunities to produce this season as the Dodgers No. 3 hitter, behind Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

MARCH 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in Cactus League lineup Smith is back in the Dodgers' Cactus League lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

Impact Smith will start behind the plate and bat third. He didn't get many at-bats for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic while mostly serving as J.T. Realmuto's backup, so the Dodgers figure to push him hard over what remains of the Cactus League schedule. The 27-year-old has gone as the No. 3 catcher-eligible player off the board in most fantasy drafts for 2023, behind only Realmuto and Daulton Varsho.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to bat third Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hinted Wednesday that Smith will be the team's No. 3 hitter this season, Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register reports. "It's hard to go wrong wit...

Impact Smith most frequently batted out of the cleanup spot in 2022, but Los Angeles' lineup has a different look this season, and Roberts appears to favor moving him up a slot. The backstop should continue to see plenty of opportunities to produce with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman likely hitting ahead of him, though Smith could play slightly fewer games with the DH slot -- where he started 24 times last year -- now expected to be occupied on a near-everyday basis by J.D. Martinez. Even if that's the case, Smith should have ample opportunity to put up numbers worthy of a top-three catcher in fantasy, which is where he's largely being drafted this spring.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ranking the best 24 catchers of 2023 in the MLB

Who are baseball's best catchers? Ben Verlander breaks down his five tiers for the toughest position in baseball.

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

Won't DH as much in 2023 Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted this past weekend that Smith will not DH quite as much in 2023, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact That's because the Dodgers brought in J.D. Martinez over the winter to fill that role on pretty much an everyday basis. Smith drew 24 starts out of the DH spot in 2022, compared to 107 starts at catcher. He could potentially push more toward 120 starts behind the plate in 2023. "The one thing I don't want Will to hear right now is he's gonna get less at-bats," Roberts said. "We're gonna manage it, monitor it and see how it goes."

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers: Will Smith Labeled Third Best Catcher in Baseball Dodgers catcher Will Smith is earning his recognition around the league.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Dodgers: Will Smith Labeled Third Best Catcher in Baseball Dodgers catcher Will Smith is earning his recognition around the league.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Dodger News: Insider Provides Update on Will Smith Extension Talks The Dodgers would love to lock him in for the foreseeable future.

JANUARY 25, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

How will Dodgers align defense beyond Betts, Freeman and Smith?

The Dodgers have long valued defensive versatility. After losing a few stalwarts, they have some tough decisions to make for 2023.

JANUARY 23, 2023

Avoids arbitration with Dodgers Smith and the Dodgers agreed on a one-year, $5.25 million contract Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Impact Smith will avoid arbitration after striking a deal with Los Angeles on Friday. The catcher is coming off of a very productive 2022 campaign where he batted .260 with 24 homers, 87 RBI, 68 runs and a stolen base over 508 at-bats in 137 games with the Dodgers. Operating in the heart of the stacked Dodgers' lineup, the 27-year-old will remain one of the best fantasy options at backstop heading into the 2023 season.

JANUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers: Will Smith Talks About Front Office Altering His Swing Before Big League Call Up Dodgers catcher Will Smith was on MLB Network talking about the offensive changes he made in the minors that turned him into the star he is...

DECEMBER 9, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Pollock declines $13M option with White Sox, goes free

Outfielder AJ Pollock declined his $13 million player option with the Chicago White Sox and was among 10 players who became free agents, raising the total to 161

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers: Will Smith's Wife Cara Shares Adorable First Look at New Baby Girl Dodgers catcher Will Smith became a father just hours before the team’s NLDS upset, and he and his wife have shared photos of their precious...

OCTOBER 21, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Offseason questions, free agency loom for Dodgers after shocking NLDS exit

The 111-win Dodgers won one game in the 2022 postseason. Rowan Kavner looks at how that happened and what's next for the team.

OCTOBER 18, 2022

Dodgers: Will Smith Gifted With Birth Of First Baby Dodgers catcher Will Smith has something to celebrate after all

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Snell, Grisham lead Padres over Dodgers 2-1 for NLDS lead

Blake Snell pitched five-hit ball into the sixth inning and Trent Grisham homered at a festive Petco Park, helping the San Diego Padres top the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 for a 2-1 le...

OCTOBER 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS