what happened to will smith dodgers

Will Smith, the Los Angeles Dodgers' All-Star catcher, suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand in early September 2025. Initially thought to be a bone bruise, further imaging revealed the fracture, causing him to miss most of the regular season's final month. Despite the injury, Smith was included on the Dodgers' 26-man roster for the 2025 National League Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds. He has participated in some at-bats and baserunning during the series but was not in the starting lineup for Game 1. His availability for postseason play was uncertain for some time, but he made it to the roster as the team hoped he could contribute as a pinch-hitter or starter later on. Backup catchers Ben Rortvedt and Dalton Rushing have taken on the primary catching duties in his absence. Smith had a strong 2025 regular season before the injury, with a .296 batting average, 17 home runs, and 61 RBIs in 110 games. The injury was a significant blow to the Dodgers, but they managed to maintain competitiveness despite his absence. The team used a smaller pitching staff in the Wild Card series to maintain a stronger bench, which helped them employ Smith when he was available. Overall, Smith's injury hampered his regular season, but he was able to return for postseason play with the Dodgers during their Wild Card series in 2025.