When talking about the 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers, many people focus on Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani.
It makes perfect sense: they are the ones doing the heavy lifting offensively.
However, they haven’t been alone: other hitters and position players are helping them.
One of those unsung heroes has been catcher Will Smith.
Not only is Smith a very competent defensive catcher, but he is also a star at the plate.
Take a minute to look at and digest Smith’s 2024 numbers so far.
You will be surprised:
“Will Smith this season (28 G): .355 AVG (39-110 AB), 14 XBH, 24 RBI, .950 OPS,” MLB Network tweeted.
Those are MVP-caliber numbers.
It’s still very early, and the sample available is not overly big.
However, it’s hard to deny that Smith has been almost as important to the 2024 Dodgers as Ohtani and Betts.
He is not only hitting for average, as his .355 mark suggests: he is also punishing the ball with authority, with 10 doubles and four home runs plus the aforementioned 24 RBI.
His .950 OPS is the third-best mark on the team, behind Ohtani and Betts.
The Dodgers have gotten everything they would have wanted from Smith, and then some.
He knows how to handle a staff, he does normal catcher stuff well, and he definitely can hit.
The 2024 campaign is shaping up to be his most productive yet, and it’s time for him to get more recognition and flowers.
He has been as consistent as they come, producing All-Star numbers all these years.
The Dodgers are truly lucky to have him around.
