Although the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered another early postseason exit, the 2023 season was still memorable for Will Smith, who continued playing at a high level en route to his first career All-Star Game selection.
The 28-year-old hit .261/.359/.438 with 21 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs and 76 RBI in 554 plate appearances over 126 games, and was one of the better defensive catchers in all of baseball.
Smith cooled off down the stretch of the season but turned it around during the National League Division Series as he went 5-for-12 with a double, triple and two RBI against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After the team was swept in three games, Smith thanked Dodgers fans for showing their support over the course of the 2023 season.
Making Smith’s successful season all the more impressive was that he played through a broken rib for most of the first half. The former first-round draft pick sustained the injury on April 30 after being hit by a pitch by St. Louis Cardinals starter Jake Woodford.
It was an unfortunate turn of events as Smith had just returned to the Dodgers lineup after missing 13 games due to a concussion.
Even with the injuries, Smith still played in at least 125 games for a third consecutive season. He was one of only nine catchers this season to appear in that many games this year.
Will Smith joins Dodgers teammates in reflecting on season
Smith joined teammates Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove and David Peralta in reflecting on the 2023 campaign via social media posts.
Each has expressed their gratitude for fans and reflected fondly on spending the year with the Dodgers.
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