Will Smith, the 31-year-old, three-time All-Star backstop, is OFFICIALLY back on the active roster for the Los Angeles Dodgers! Just before they kick off a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at home on Tuesday night, the Dodgers dropped a flurry of roster moves, and Smith’s return from the injured list is the absolute biggest headline. It’s been a rough stretch for the guy, limited to only 52 games in 2026 because of an inflamed disc in his neck, forcing him to miss nearly three full months of the regular season. But now? He’s ready to go.
That Three-Time Champ Is Ready to Roll
This is huge news, man. Losing a player of Smith’s caliber for so long is brutal for any team. Before he went down with that neck issue, this three-time World Series champion was still putting up solid numbers, hitting .249/.338/.382 with six home runs and a .720 OPS. You know that kind of production, especially from behind the plate, makes a massive difference. His return, alongside fellow catcher Dalton Rushing and LHP Justin Wrobleski getting activated from the IL, is a massive shot in the arm for the Dodgers. They also added infielder Alex Freeland to the active roster, beefing up their bench.
Moves and Shake-ups Behind the Plate
With Smith and Rushing back in the mix, some other guys had to make way. The Dodgers ended up optioning outfielder Alek Thomas and, perhaps more tellingly, designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment. Rortvedt, who had made 16 appearances in his second stint with the club, was a trade deadline pickup from the Mets, along with Hunter Feduccia from the Rays. These moves were necessary back then because Dalton Rushing had suffered a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. It just goes to show you how quickly things can change and how much depth really matters when injuries hit hard. You gotta be ready to shuffle the deck, right?
So, the Dodgers are heading into their series against the Cardinals on Tuesday night with their All-Star catcher back in action. It’s going to be wild to see what kind of spark Smith brings after being out for so long. Every game matters right now, and getting a key player like this back on the field could absolutely light a fire under the whole squad. Can’t wait to see if he’s back to his old self!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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