Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star catcher Will Smith is at risk of not being healthy for the start of the postseason.
A hairline fracture in his hand has led to manager Dave Roberts listing him as “doubtful” to make a regular season return as October looms. A foul ball hit Smith on the hand on Sept. 3, causing him to leave the game, but initial X-Rays came back negative. Smith even returned six days later, but landed on the injured list shortly thereafter.
Now, he’s unlikely to return this regular season, while his status for the postseason is “up in the air.”
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Backstop Ben Rortvedt, acquired via a trade deadline deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for Triple-A catcher Hunter Feduccia, will be receiving “the lion’s share” of starts while Smith recovers, per Roberts. Rookie catcher Dalton Rushing is available behind the dish, as well.
Rortvedt appears to be up for the challenge, proving to be a reliable catcher for the defending champions while Smith, and briefly Rushing, were both sidelined.
In his 13 appearances with the Dodgers, all of which occurred this month, he is batting .294/.368/.353 with an OPS of .721. Rortvedt has also proven to be a force defensively, showing above average framing and game-calling capabilities in the absence of Smith.
Smith was off to a phenomenal year, batting .323 with a .966 OPS before the All-Star break, where he received his third nod at the Midsummer Classic. Things have taken a bit of a dip in the second half, as in his last 20 games, Smith is batting just .210, keeping his OPS at .726.
The other option in the catching department is Rushing, who was fast-tracked up to the big leagues this past May due to his offensive prowess, but is hitting just .184 in his first 47 appearances on the Dodgers.
Rushing had a scary moment two days after Smith went down, fouling a ball off his shin and later requiring a stint on the injured list, but has since returned to the lineup.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn
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