Dominic Smith is turning a limited Braves role into one of the most productive stretches of his career. Signed by Atlanta this offseason, Smith has hit.395/.415/.684 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 11 games, including a go-ahead three-RBI double in the eighth inning on Tuesday.
He has also delivered a walk-off grand slam earlier this season, giving the Braves a jolt on nights when Drake Baldwin is not in the designated hitter spot. The surge is notable because Smith hit only five home runs in 63 games last season and played 84 games for the Red Sox in 2024, part of a run in which he batted.247 with a.681 OPS over the last five seasons while mainly playing first base.
The early returns have been strong enough to make this his best year since 2020, when he received some MVP votes with the New York Mets. That matters because his opportunity may not last in the same form much longer. Sean Murphy is on his way back, and if he returns, he could take designated hitter at-bats when Baldwin is catching, which would squeeze Smith’s playing time even further.
For now, the Braves are getting a hitter who looks nothing like the one from the recent past. Smith’s opening run in Atlanta is starting to look less like a hot streak and more like the beginning of a new chapter in his career.