The Los Angeles Dodgers are approaching two months since Will Smith was last in their lineup, and what’s been a perplexing process in trying to return from an inflamed disc in his neck now is on an upswing.
“He is starting baseball activity,” manager Dave Roberts said before the series opener between the Seattle Mariners and Dodgers. “Pain-free, as he has been for the last week. I haven’t seen him, trying to track him down, but haven’t seen him yet.
“But I’m excited to hear that he is starting baseball activity. So lifting some weights, throwing, getting his torso, his core moving, and swinging the bat.”
Smith had last started playing catch and a hitting progression in early July, but was forced to be temporarily shut down by the middle of the month because the neck discomfort returned.
But while the Dodgers were on their road trip after the All-Star break, Roberts shared that Smith was pain-free. “What that means, don’t really know yet,” Roberts added at the time. “But he’s pain-free.”
Roughly a week later, the Dodgers have reason to be optimistic again as Smith is due to start his progression once again.
What is Will Smith’s timeline?
While Smith now is in a position to increase his level of activity, the Dodgers still aren’t certain of a potential return date. Workouts will need to lead to batting practice and then an eventual rehab assignment.
Thus, it stands to reason that Smith won’t be activated off the 60-day injured list for a minimum of multiple weeks. From a technicality standpoint, the earliest Smith can be activated is Friday, Aug. 7.
That date of course has long been out of the question, which made his going on the 60-day IL last week a relative non-factor. Though, it will require to the team to open a spot on their 40-man roster whenever Smith is ready to be activated.
The Dodgers’ 40-man roster currently being full also is going to be a factor for Blake Snell’s return. He’s scheduled to make a rehab start for Single-A Ontario on Wednesday night and could then rejoin the Dodgers’ rotation given their need for a starter because Shohei Ohtani isn’t pitching.
For the time being, Smith’s recent improvement and workload over the next handful of days may possibly influence whether or not the Dodgers look to acquire a catcher before the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 3.
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