Fastball

Los Angeles Dodgers Catcher Will Smith Hits 3 Home Runs, Makes Franchise History

Will Smith became just the fourth catcher in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers to blast three home runs in a single game, lifting his team to victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Sam Connon

Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) reacts after hitting a third home run of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium.
Jul 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) reacts after hitting a third home run of the game during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. / Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith opened his Friday night with a bang, and his bat hardly cooled off from there.

Smith hit a solo home run in his first plate appearance of the night, working the Milwaukee Brewers' newly-acquired starting pitcher Aaron Civale for a seven-pitch at-bat before taking him yard. He came back with another solo homer in the bottom of the third, this time on the first pitch he saw from Civale.

The Brewers eventually took a 5-2 lead, thanks to a history-making grand slam from Rhys Hoskins, and the Dodgers were suddenly in a hole despite Smith's best efforts.

Smith drew a walk in the fifth, then picked up right where he left off in the seventh. He blasted yet another solo homer to tie the score at 5-5, completing Los Angeles' comeback. He drew another walk in the eighth and came around to score as the Dodgers capped off their 8-5 victory.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Smith is now just the fourth catcher in Dodgers history to hit three home runs in a single game.

Roy Campanella was the franchise's first backstop to achieve the feat, doing so in 1950, and no one else did it until Mike Piazza in 1996. Yasmani Grandal then joined the list in 2016, eight years before Smith.

Considering Campanella and Piazza are both Hall of Famers, and that the other three catchers on the list have combined for 25 All-Star appearances, it is quite the accomplishment for Smith to join their company.

Smith is now batting .276 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, an .851 OPS and a 2.9 WAR on the season. The 29-year-old was not voted in as the National League's starting catcher for the upcoming All-Star Game, but he is certainly in contention to earn a roster spot as a reserve for the second season in a row.

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.

Published
Sam Connon

SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

Home/History