Will Smith (Baseball)

Will Smith Bio

William Dills Smith is an American professional baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on March 28, 1995, in Louisville, Kentucky, Smith has established himself as one of the premier catchers in baseball. He was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft after playing college baseball for the Louisville Cardinals. Smith made his MLB debut in 2019 and quickly became a cornerstone of the Dodgers organization. He is a three-time All-Star and has won three World Series championships with the Dodgers in 2020, 2024, and 2025.

Early Life and Background

Smith grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, as the son of Mark and Julie Smith. He has a younger sister named Sara. Smith attended Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville, where he developed into a standout two-way player. During his senior year in 2013, he hit .528 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs while also pitching to a 7–1 record with a 0.87 ERA. Despite his impressive high school performance, Smith went undrafted in the 2013 MLB draft and enrolled at the University of Louisville to play college baseball.

Smith grew up cheering for the Boston Red Sox, and his favorite players were Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz. He earned the nickname “The Fresh Prince” after the television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The name often requires disambiguation from pitcher Will Smith, who played for several MLB teams.

Path to Professional Baseball

While at the University of Louisville, Smith continued to develop his skills as a catcher and hitter. He played collegiate summer baseball for the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 2014, helping the team win the league championship. The following summer, he played for the Brewster Whitecaps of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in 2015. During his junior season in 2016, Smith slashed .382/.480/.567 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 55 games, establishing himself as a top prospect.

After his junior year, Smith was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed on July 17, 2016, for a $1.775 million signing bonus, beginning his professional career.

Will Smith Career

Minor Leagues (2016–2019)

Smith began his professional career with the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer Baseball League before quickly advancing to the Class-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. He continued his progression with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, where he was named to the California League mid-season all-star team in 2017 after hitting .232 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 72 games. Smith was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in July 2018 but suffered a fractured hand after getting hit by a pitch in his debut, causing him to miss the rest of the season. He split the 2018 season between Tulsa and the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, hitting .233 with 20 home runs and 59 RBIs combined.

Los Angeles Dodgers Breakthrough (2019–Present)

Smith began the 2019 season with Oklahoma City but was promoted to the majors on May 27, 2019. He made his major league debut the following day against the New York Mets and had two hits in four at-bats as the starting catcher. His first MLB hit was a single off Steven Matz in the second inning, and his first career home run came as a walk-off against Héctor Neris of the Philadelphia Phillies on June 1, 2019. Smith returned to the minors for a month before being recalled on July 26 to become the Dodgers’ primary catcher. He finished the 2019 campaign hitting .253/.337/.571 in 54 games with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs.

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Smith played in 37 games and hit .289/.401/.579 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs. During the postseason, he set a new Dodgers franchise record with five hits in a postseason game during the NLDS and became the first MLB player to face a pitcher of the same name in the postseason when the Dodgers faced Atlanta Braves pitcher Will Smith in the NLCS. He hit a three-run home run in that historic at-bat and won his first World Series championship with the Dodgers that October.

Smith played in 130 games in 2021, hitting .258/.365/.495 with career highs of 25 home runs and 76 RBIs. He led major league catchers in stolen bases allowed and led the National League with 11 sacrifice flies. In 2022, he played 137 games with a .260 batting average, 24 home runs, and 87 RBIs, earning All-MLB Second Team honors. He was selected to his first All-Star game in 2023, batting .261 with 19 home runs and 76 RBIs in 126 games while also representing the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2024–Present)

Smith began 2024 by agreeing to an $8.55 million contract, a record amount for a catcher in his second year of salary arbitration. On March 27, 2024, he signed a landmark 10-year, $140 million contract extension with the Dodgers, securing his future through 2034. He hit his 100th career home run for the Dodgers on May 30 against the Mets, becoming the fourth catcher in franchise history to reach that milestone alongside Roy Campanella, Mike Piazza, and Steve Yeager. In July 2024, Smith hit three home runs in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers, joining an elite group of Dodger catchers. The following day, he homered in his first at-bat, tying him for the major league record of four home runs in four at-bats. He was selected to his second consecutive All-Star game and played 128 games with 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. In the postseason, he hit poorly but contributed key home runs in each round and won his second championship with the Dodgers.

The 2025 season was historic for Smith. On June 18, he hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run against the San Diego Padres, setting a new Dodgers franchise record for the most pinch-hit walk-off home runs. On August 31, he hit another pinch-hit walk-off home run, giving him four career walk-off home runs and moving him into second place in MLB history for pinch-hit home runs behind only Jason Giambi. Smith finished the regular season with a career-high .296 batting average, 17 home runs, and 61 RBIs in 110 games despite missing the final stretch with a hairline hand fracture suffered in September. In the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Smith homered in Game 2 and Game 7, with his 11th-inning home run in Game 7 proving to be the game-winning hit as the Dodgers captured the championship. He set a new record for most innings caught in a single World Series during the dramatic seven-game series.

Notable Events and Milestones

Smith has accumulated several signature moments throughout his career. His dramatic walk-off home runs have become a hallmark of his clutch performances. The historic postseason matchup against fellow Will Smith in the 2020 NLCS stands as a unique moment in baseball history. His contract extension in 2024 made him one of the highest-paid catchers in baseball history. The 2025 World Series Game 7 home run cemented his legacy as a big-game performer, and his record-setting performance catching all 11 innings in that game demonstrated his durability and importance to the team.

Will Smith Career Wins

Throughout his MLB career, Smith has established himself as one of the most productive catchers in baseball. His career statistics through June 5, 2026, include a .263 batting average, 134 home runs, and 465 RBIs across his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2019 to present.

Major League Baseball Highlights

Smith’s most significant achievements include three World Series championships with the Dodgers in 2020, 2024, and 2025. He is a three-time All-Star selection in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and has been recognized with two All-MLB Second Team selections in 2022 and 2025. His walk-off home run totals and pinch-hit production records place him among the most clutch hitters at his position. The dramatic Game 7 home run in the 2025 World Series stands as perhaps his most memorable moment, delivering the championship in dramatic fashion.

Other Achievements

Smith won a gold medal representing the United States at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he played in three games and hit a home run against Team Mexico. In his amateur career, he helped the Newport Gulls win a league championship in 2014 and earned recognition in the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier collegiate summer leagues in the country.

Will Smith Family

Family Background

Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Mark and Julie Smith. He has a younger sister named Sara. His family background in Kentucky has remained important to him throughout his career, and he and his wife have incorporated their Kentucky roots into their charitable work. Smith grew up as a Red Sox fan, citing Jason Varitek, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz as his baseball inspirations.

Personal Life

Smith married Cara Martinell in December 2020. Their first child, a daughter, was born in October 2022. In 2021, Smith and his wife co-founded the Catching Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting youth communities and education initiatives. The foundation reflects the couple’s commitment to giving back to their shared home state of Kentucky and the communities that supported Smith throughout his development as a player.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season was a defining year for Smith despite the injury setback. He was the Dodgers’ primary catcher through the first several months, appearing in 110 games and delivering his best batting average at the plate. His remarkable ability to deliver in clutch situations was on full display with multiple walk-off home runs. The regular season ended prematurely due to a hairline fracture in his hand sustained on September 3 when he was hit by a foul ball off the bat of Nick Gonzales of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The injury forced him to miss the remainder of the regular season, but he recovered in time for the postseason.

Smith returned to the starting lineup during the NLCS and was productive in the championship series against Milwaukee. His performance in the World Series was exceptional, delivering key hits in Games 2 and 6 before his dramatic Game 7 home run. Catching all 11 innings in the decisive Game 7 set a new record for a single World Series and demonstrated his dedication and physical resilience. Through early June 2026, Smith has played 87 games, hitting .263 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs, continuing to anchor the Dodgers’ lineup behind the plate.