Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Will Smith Earns Comparisons to Buster Posey

The Dodgers have been hitting pay dirt with their rookies this season. First, Matt Beaty came up and has done nothing but hit. Most recently, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May have excelled in spot starts in the rotation. But in between there’s a guy that’s taken on the field’s most demanding role, and transformed a position of weakness to another strength for the 2019 ball club.

Will Smith.



Moreover, the rookie catcher was the topic of discussion on MLB Network as industry expert Jon Morosi chatted with Lauren Shehadi about the Dodgers rookie catcher.

Will Smith has earned some comparisons — early career — to Buster Posey. The composure, the poise, the talent — recently I checked with Dan McDonald, his head coach at the University of Louisville who talked about how ‘he was always so talented, but also a hard worker who never had any hint of entitlement.’

Assistant coach Eric Snider saying ‘confident but humble, very studious. He studied and read books on the bus.’

He has done everything the right way, and of course a key at-bat late in the game. And it’s that calm that I think has really impressed his peers with the Dodgers and around the league. The moment never seems to be too big for Will Smith; that’s why he’s become — as a rookie — the everyday catcher on a team that may well be the best in baseball.

High praise, but so far it’s all deserved.

Posey Comp

The Buster Posey comparison stands out immediately as something of a “wow” moment from this chat. Posey, of course cemented his status as a star when he was a rookie in 2010. While he would win the National League Rookie of the Year award that season on the power of a .305/.357/.505 slash line with 18 home runs and 67 RBI, the most important thing he would go on to win that year was the World Series.

[adace-ad id=”113300″]

With Will Smith behind the dish as the everyday guy, the Dodgers are hoping to pick up their first championship in 31 years.

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

10 Comments

  1. Let’s not compare him to Posey please! The concussion rule monster has been fading just as quickly as he arose. Why can’t Will just be a catcher that can actually hit. And then we can all thank Grienke for making him OUR catcher.

    1. Exactly! And if Keibert Ruiz is as good as the Dodgers expect him to be, catcher Will Smith may become third baseman Will Smith in 2021.

      1. I had asked someone on another blog if Will Smith is able to play other positions, because as like Posey, his legs could be saved. Apparently he does have experience at 3rd and maybe at 1st as well. IDK but Ruiz could be dealt in off season but only for the right return should Dodgers feel Smith will be the starting catcher for quite a while. eventually, I would think Dodgers might consider their 1st round draft pick this year, Kodi Hoese as a future 3rd baseman but that is down the road somewhat.

        1. I don’t think Ruiz will be traded – unless the Angels decide to swap Mike Trout, or Indians give up Lindor, or… You get the idea. No doubt Ruiz did not have the season he, Dodgers, and fans had hoped, but his offensive skills for catcher are off the charts. Hoese may become a top third base prospect, but so far is just OK for Lo A. He could even move to first base, or to the outfield.

          1. True that, SoCal and in the off season Dodgers can figure out a few things but in any event I am not advocating trading Ruiz anyway. But as we know eventually a replacement for Turner must be considered so WSS

          1. Are you guys on any new posting sites that I’m not aware of? Miss posting daily with you guys

  2. Helo, I’ve been watching every dodger game for 2 years now, and I Truly Believe that the Dodger Team is a Blessed team! And I watched WILL SMITH the first time a bat, in the Last inning He hit a homer and the Dodgers won that game and sent him down to the miners!????? Why???? What a bad mistake!! We would be ahead by more than 77 games by now, I’m so THANKFUL they brought Him back up to play, also all the So called Rockies!! Not in my book!! These Men play Baseball like they were born for the Game! Also I BELIEVE WITH all the Talents of The Whole Team, WOW!!! ALL THE WAY DODGERS!! SEMPER FI. IM 77 YEARS YOUNG, AND ALL YOU GUYS BREATH LIFE BACK INTO ME AND MILLIONS OF DODGER FANS! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, SIDE NOTE. IM AN ARTIST. AND I will PAINT all you portraits. ASAP. Oils on canvas. If you all would like to see my works, just go to u tube and look up painting by Lawrence R Reed Rydzewski.4.each.again Thank you ALL DODGER PLAYERS, YOU ALL ARE MAGNIFICENT. ALL THE WAY TO THE WORLD SERIES AND WIN IN A ABUNDANT WAY THAT WILL SHOKE THE WORLD!! YOURS TRUE! LAWRENCE R REED.AUGUST 9TH 4:46 PM 2019.

  3. I agree and it’s not just the young corny white boy look that they both had as rookies it’s the whole thing

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button