Will Smith doesn’t get the attention he deserves—and he’s totally ok with that.
Will Smith has a lot going for him: the clear lead in the National League batting race, a .965 OPS (second only to Shohei Ohtani), and the fifth-best walk rate in the league.
But according to manager Dave Roberts: “He’s up there as far as being overlooked.”
It doesn’t bother Smith that he’s usually only swarmed by reporters if he’s being asked about the pitchers he’s catching. As far as he’s concerned, he’s just here to play the game.
“I show up, play baseball every day, try to help the team win, try to be a good teammate, try to lead the pitchers, and ultimately try to win a World Series every year,” Smith said. “That’s what’s important to me.”
With that attitude, it makes sense as to why Smith flies under the radar. He’s not flashy or quippy, and he doesn’t have a wacky nickname like fellow All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh. But he could still win the batting title, and maybe even the MVP.
“What he’s doing is Buster Posey-ish, Joe Mauer-ish,” Freddie Freeman said. “When you’re leading the league in hitting and you’re catching, it’s really hard to do.
Jack Harris at the Los Angeles Times has more on Smith and his stellar performance this season.
Dodgers Notes
The Dodgers’ ups and downs are one of the top storylines of the first half, according to ESPN’s Dave Shoenfield. The team has gone from seemingly unbeatable to undeniably human in a short span—good thing there’s a whole second half to play.
Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic had some storylines of his own to follow, from whether Mookie Betts can get back into gear to what the rotation is going to look like in the months to come.
With the All-Star Game happening in Atlanta, how did Freddie Freeman feel about returning to Truist Park? “It does feel like a lifetime ago,” he said of his 12 years playing for the Braves. Dylan Hernández at the Los Angeles Times spoke with Freeman about the experience.