The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without Will Smith for the remainder of the regular season due to a hairline fracture in his right hand. The injury was discovered when the All-Star catcher underwent another MRI last week.
“It sounds like, from the doctors, that it’s so small and in such a small part of the hand that it didn’t show up initially, but did on the subsequent, which they seem to say is common,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said of Smith’s hairline fracture.
“I haven’t seen it, but I also haven’t seen a broken bone in that area very often, so it makes sense why it was slow to rebound.
“So I’m glad we have clarity on it, and we’re going to do everything we can to strengthen, heal and get it back, but we’re subject to when that happens.”
While Smith is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, the Dodgers are hopeful he will be able to return for the start of the playoffs. That’s likely to be Sept. 30 in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
“Just pain tolerance kind of thing. Obviously with baseball activities, it’s going to be rushed, it’s going to be tight. As soon as I’m ready to go I’ll be in there,” Smith said.
In the meantime, the 30-year-old is doing as much as he can to stay active while giving his hand enough time to heal.
“Running, working out, catching bullpens, standing in on bullpens to keep your eyes going. A lot of rotational stuff to be ready to start swings,” Smith said. “Keep my shoulder in shape. Everything I can do to stay as ready as possible so when I can go I’ll be right back.”
Smith otherwise has his right hand in a splint and uses a designated thrower whenever catching a bullpen session.
Smith has been dealing with the right hand injury since Sept. 2, when he was hit by a foul ball. He initially remained in the game but was pinch-hit for in the third inning.
The Dodgers kept Smith on their active roster despite not playing again until Sept. 9. He was on track to play the following day as well, but got scratched because of swelling in his right hand.
How does right hand injury affect Will Smith?
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that the right hand fracture has limited Smith as both a hitter and catcher.
“I think it’s both,” Roberts said. “In talking to him, it’s gripping the bat, throwing the ball, which he would have to do 150 times.”
With Smith’s status for the postseason up in the air, the Dodgers will consider carrying three catchers on their roster.
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