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Dodgers catcher Will Smith could miss the remainder of the first half, per Dodger Blue. Smith has been out since June 6, when he was scratched from the lineup with neck stiffness. What initially looked like a day-to-day situation has dragged on for over three weeks now, and a return before the All-Star break is no longer a given. The early optimism that he’d be back the next game didn’t pan out, and neither did hopes he’d rejoin the team at the start of their subsequent road trip.

Smith has been one of the most productive catchers in baseball since establishing himself as the Dodgers’ everyday backstop. The switch-hitter posted an .840 OPS across the 2023 and 2024 seasons combined, and his bat has been a fixture in the middle of the lineup for years now. He’s also become a better defensive catcher over time, building strong rapport with a pitching staff that has leaned on him heavily. Losing him for an extended stretch isn’t just about replacing his bat — it disrupts the rhythm between pitcher and catcher that takes real time to build. Neck injuries for a catcher are particularly tricky given the constant crouching, head movement, and the physical toll of blocking and throwing. The fact that this has lingered well beyond initial expectations tells you it’s more than routine stiffness.

The timing here is rough. The Dodgers are already navigating a crowded injury list, with Blake Snell, Brusdar Graterol, and others working back from their own issues. Smith’s absence has forced the team to lean more heavily on their backup catching options, and while those guys can hold the fort for a stretch, nobody mistakes them for Smith’s caliber of player. His presence in the lineup changes the complexion of the order — he’s a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat who can drive the ball from both sides of the plate.

I’m not going to sugarcoat this: if Smith is truly out until after the break, that’s a real problem. We’re talking about one of our best hitters and our most important catcher being unavailable during a stretch where every game against the Padres and other NL West rivals matters. The Dodgers have the depth to survive it — they’ve proven that already this season — but surviving and thriving are two different things. The front office may need to explore external options if this timeline extends any further, because asking the roster to absorb Smith’s absence on top of everything else is a lot.

The All-Star break falls in mid-July, so we’re looking at a minimum of two-plus more weeks without Smith if this plays out as reported. That’s roughly 15-18 games. The Dodgers will need their pitching to carry even more of the load, and they’ll need guys like Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani to keep producing at the plate to offset the loss. For now, this is a wait-and-see situation — but the trend line on Smith’s recovery has moved in the wrong direction at every checkpoint so far, and that’s genuinely concerning.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: June 28, 2026 7:05 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers