Nationals' Dominic Smith: Swats first spring homer
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Smith went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
Stepping to the plate with a runner on base in the sixth inning, Smith hooked a Genesis Cabrera pitch down the right-field line for his first long ball of the spring. The 27-year-old is coming off a rough final season with the Mets that saw him fail to hit a homer in 152 plate appearances, but Smith is just a couple years removed from a .316/.377/.616 slash line during the pandemic season. The 2013 first-round pick will be given every chance in camp to win the starting first base job for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Dominic Smith: Fine after hit-by-pitch Tuesday
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Smith (quad) checked out fine after getting hit by a pitch in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Smith was struck on the outside of his right quad, just above the knee, but he walked off the field under his own power and said that he would have fought to stay in the game had it been the regular season. All is well for the Nationals' projected starting first baseman.
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Nationals' Dominic Smith: Exits game after HBP on foot
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Smith exited Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals after taking a pitch off his foot, Andrew Goldstein of the Washington Post reports.
Smith walked off the field without any assistance, so his early departure was hopefully just a precautionary measure. There were some heated words exchanged between the Nationals and Cardinals following the HBP, so it might have also been simply about quelling any bad blood. Smith signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Washington over the winter and is expected to operate as the Nats' primary first baseman in 2023.
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Nationals' Dominic Smith: Signs one-year deal with Nationals
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Smith agreed to terms on a one-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Smith was presumably looking for a landing spot with few obstacles in his path to playing time as he looks to rebuild his career after a pair of down seasons, and he's seemingly found one in Washington. After hitting .299/.366/.571 in 2019 and 2020, he hit just .233/.298/.345 across the past two years. Even a modest bounce-back should be enough to secure him a spot as the Nationals' primary first baseman, but it's far from guaranteed that one is on the cards.
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Dominic Smith: Non-tendered by Mets
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Smith was non-tendered by the Mets and became a free agent Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports
Smith slashed just .194/.276/.284 over 152 major-league plate appearances last season before being sent down to the minors in August. Stuck behind Pete Alonso and Daniel Vogelbach on the depth chart, it simply didn't make sense for the Mets to bring him back in 2023. The 27-year-old showed he can succeed in the majors in 2019 and 2020, recording a .937 OPS between the two seasons, so Smith should still draw some interest from teams looking for a left-handed bat.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Activated from IL, sent down
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Smith (ankle) was activated from the 10-day injured list Thursday and was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
After missing three weeks with a right ankle sprain, Smith will remain with Syracuse after going 4-for-17 with an RBI and two runs scored over five games during his rehab assignment. The 27-year-old will likely be a top option to get called up to the big leagues down the stretch, though his .194/.276/.284 slash line over 134 at-bats in 58 games with the Mets this year leaves much to be desired.
Smith (ankle) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith has been sidelined with a right ankle sprain since mid-July but has now been cleared to return to game action with the minor-league club. The Mets recently acquired Daniel Vogelbach and Tyler Naquin, so it's not yet clear whether Smith will have a regular role with the big-league squad once he's deemed fully healthy.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Nearing rehab assignment
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Smith (ankle) could begin a rehab assignment during the Mets' current road trip that lasts through Wednesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
It sounds like the best-case scenario would be Smith starting a rehab assignment in a couple days and then getting activated next weekend. He hit .194 with zero home runs in 58 games prior to getting injured.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Hits IL with ankle sprain
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The Mets placed Smith on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right ankle sprain.
The transaction is retroactive to Sunday, so Smith will be eligible to come off the IL as soon as July 27. The Mets have yet to announce a corresponding roster move, but Smith's placement on the IL should open up more reps against right-handed pitching for Luis Guillorme or J.D. Davis.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Not starting Sunday
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Smith (ankle) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
According to Tim Healey of Newsday, manager Buck Showalter said Sunday that the swelling in Smith's ankle has lessened since the 27-year-old exited the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Even so, Smith will be sent in for more imaging when the Mets return to New York following Sunday's contest, so a trip to the injured list could still be a possibility. Jeff McNeil will replace Smith in the lineup Sunday as the Mets' designated hitter.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Heading for MRI
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Smith will undergo an MRI on his right ankle, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Smith injured his ankle when running the bases in the 10th inning of the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs. He'll be on the bench for the nightcap as a result, with J.D. Davis serving as the designated hitter.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Exits with apparent injury
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Smith was removed from Saturday's matinee against the Cubs in the top of the 10th inning due to an apparent left ankle injury, Deesha Thosar of FoxSports.com reports.
Smith began the 10th inning as a runner at second base, but he appeared to roll his ankle while taking a lead off the bag and was removed from the game as a result. Prior to his departure, he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. It's not yet clear whether Smith will be available for Saturday's nightcap or for Sunday's series finale at Wrigley Field.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: On bench against left-hander
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Smith isn't starting Monday's game against Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith is out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last seven games since left-hander Max Fried is on the mound for Atlanta on Monday. J.D. Davis will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Sitting against southpaw
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Smith isn't starting Saturday's game against the Marlins.
Smith will be out of the lineup for the third time in the last five games since left-hander Braxton Garrett is on the mound for Miami. J.D. Davis is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Retreats to bench versus lefty
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Smith is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.
After going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs and an RBI in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Reds, the lefty-hitting Smith is beginning to make a case for playing more regularly against right-handed pitching. However, he'll head to the bench Thursday with southpaw Daniel Castano on the hill for Miami, affording J.D. Davis an opportunity to serve as the Mets' designated hitter.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Sits versus lefty
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Smith is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Reds.
The lefty-hitting Smith will give way to the righty-hitting J.D. Davis at designated hitter with lefty Nick Lodolo on the hill for Cincinnati. Smith went 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles and two RBI while starting in both of the past two contests, when the Mets opposed right-handed starting pitchers on both occasions. The 27-year-old may be trending toward earning a strong-side platoon role over infielder Luis Guillorme, who brings defensive value but is in a 2-for-26 slump at the plate over his past eight games.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Comes up clutch in Monday's win
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Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in Monday's 7-4 win over the Reds.
Smith's two-bagger in the sixth inning helped break the game open, as the Mets were clinging to a one-run lead before he plated the two runs. Since his June 20 call-up from Triple-A Syracuse, Smith has started in five of the Mets' 12 games while going 7-for-21 (.333 average) with four doubles, two RBI and one run.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Back in big leagues
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Smith was recalled by the Mets on Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has hit a respectable .266/.347/.438 in 15 games since being demoted to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of May, though his return may be less about his own numbers and more about the fact that teams are limited to 13 pitchers for the rest of the season. The Mets needed to call up an extra bat, and Smith is their best option, but if he's to carve out a meaningful role the rest of the way he'll have to hit far better than the .235/.301/.346 line he's managed since the start of last season.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Optioned to Triple-A
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Smith was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday.
Smith has struggled mightily in a part-time role this season, hitting .186/.287/.256. Add in his numbers from a disappointing 2021 campaign and he now owns an 83 wRC+ over the last two seasons, a far cry from the 150 wRC+ he managed from 2019 to 2020 and nowhere close to a good enough mark for a defensively limited player like Smith. He'll try to get back on track with regular playing time in the minors, freeing up more at-bats for J.D. Davis, Luis Guillorme and Nick Plummer.
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Mets' Dominic Smith: Riding pine against lefty
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Smith isn't starting Friday against the Phillies.
Smith has served in the strong side of a platoon this season, and he'll get a breather with left-hander Bailey Falter on the mound Friday. J.D. Davis will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth.
