FLUSHING, NY — Dominic Smith was that highly touted prospect for the Mets, selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft. A six year tenure followed with those highs and lows of a ballplayer with expectations. A tenure of big time game winning moments, injuries, lack of production and setbacks with back-and-forth movement to various minor league affiliates.
The youngster from South Central Los Angeles, not far from Compton, walked into the home clubhouse of Citi Field for the first time in 2017, awed with the spacious room. Teammates at the time who had some familiarity made it easier, guys he spent time with in the Mets minor league system.
Then Jacob deGrom, the Mets two-time NL Cy Young Award winning pitcher, Rafael Montero a workhorse out of the bullpen, and a team with rookies. Later a friendship with J.D. Davis, one that was chronicled with their favorite chocolate chip cookie and rooming together away from the ballpark.
Dominic Smith spent the first six years of his MLB career in Queens, making his MLB debut with the Mets in 2017 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Years later and at 30 years of age, Smith is a veteran with the NL East division leading Atlanta Braves, a team that holds the best record in MLB. It’s been a journey for Smith with the Mets, Nationals, Red Sox, Reds, Giants and Braves. He also had a brief stint with the Yankees.
Now with the Braves, he has become a veteran leader, occasionally starting but primarily in the lineup as the designated hitter for manager Walt Weiss. Signed to a minor league contract, Smith has found a comfort zone with the Braves. Consistency in the lineup, reliable with an Atlanta ballclub that scores runs even without injured All-Star Ronald Acuña Jr. on the shelf with a strained left hamstring.
The Braves recently placed superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
“It’s a blessing to still be able to play this game, much a believer,” said Smith Friday evening prior to the Mets 7-5 win over the Braves at Citi Field two home runs, grand slam and six RBI from Bo Bichette.
He is a believer, and has faith. Smith has a 10-game hitting streak and scored a run in the second inning on Friday after a single. The .304 average is seventh best among 43 others in the DH role. Earlier this season, he became the first player in major league history to hit a grand slam walk-off home run in a team debut.
“The Lord is just taking care of me, my whole life,” he said. “I also put in a lot of work during the off season and you know, it’s constantly evolving. Trying to grow, and take my experiences from the past and just try to use that. Just try and help this team win ballgames.”
He sits in the clubhouse with an All-Star team—Michael Harris, Matt Olsen, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley. Chats about baseball and life with bullpen stoppers Robert Suárez and Raisel Iglesias. The Mets clubhouse down the hall is a memory and Citi Field is a reminder of how it started.
But what has revived the career for Smith after so many destinations and proving his worth to a team? Some will say the Mets did not give Smith a chance as injuries that kept him off the field and eventually they had to move on and go in another direction as rookie slugger Pete Alonso was on the horizon.
All former Mets now: Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo and Dominic Smith catching up prior to a regular season matchup between the Nationals and Mets back in 2023 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
But it was motivation to continue, his parents wisdom, and that resilience for a kid from the inner city. Smith says the Braves has a loose clubhouse, no egos, and as a group mingle together. Rained out the prior night in Chicago and the Braves boarded their charter flight and arrived in their midtown hotel at 6:00AM Friday morning. Smith said they were all in the visitors clubhouse before 2:00PM Friday afternoon.
“Not just one thing,” he said about the adjustments and feeling comfortable with the Braves. “Its a culmination of things. A lot of adjustments—on the field, off the field. I have a mentor, talk about different things, chat once a week, and make different affirmations. A lot about getting back into the Bible, driving into the Lord and giving him the praise he deserves. I think the biggest thing is obviously your mindset coming in every day, being confident in what you do and knowing who you are and what your purpose is.”
That purpose of course is contributing to a Braves team that is now projected to be two of the last standing in October. Smith, a left handed hitter is certainly what Atlanta needs in his role and the numbers are showing (.291 batting average, six home runs, 29 RBI, .779 OPS).
“It’s just having a team like this who believes in you and sets you up on an everyday basis,” he said. “I give them (Braves) plenty of credit, it’s a team game, and it’s just fun being a part of a group that is selfless.”
And it’s also the consistency of being in the lineup or off the bench, something many believe did not exist in his Mets tenure.
“I try to make sure I’m prepared and ready,” he said. “ I don’t think anybody in here wants to be on the bench or come off the bench or whatever the case may be. We all believe that we can play at a high level and we all believe in our abilities. So yeah whenever my name is called, I just want to be prepared to be my best and be professional.”
And New York will always be home to Smith. There is no resentment, it was time to move on and the Braves are fortunate to have that bat in their lineup.
“New York gave me the opportunity of a lifetime,” Smith said. “Gave me a chance to live out my childhood dreams, which is playing in the big leagues.”
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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