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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that it’s improbable catcher Will Smith returns before the All-Star break, per the LA Times staff. That effectively rules Smith out for at least another couple of weeks and puts a firm timeline on what had been a somewhat open-ended absence.

Smith has been one of the most productive catchers in baseball since establishing himself as the Dodgers’ everyday backstop. The former first-round pick (2016, 32nd overall) has consistently posted above-average offensive numbers for the position, combining solid contact ability with real power from both sides of the plate. He’s developed into one of those rare catchers who genuinely impacts the lineup — not just relative to the position, but as a hitter, period. His switch-hitting ability gives Roberts lineup flexibility that’s hard to replace, and his pitch framing and game-calling have steadily improved over the years. Losing him for any stretch forces the Dodgers to cobble together a catching plan that simply can’t replicate what he provides on either side of the ball.

The timing here matters. With Austin Barnes just recalled ahead of a bullpen game (as we covered earlier this week), the Dodgers clearly already had contingency plans in motion behind the plate. Barnes is a veteran presence who knows the pitching staff well — he’s been a Dodger forever, essentially — but his bat is a significant downgrade. That’s the reality. The Dodgers can survive a Barnes-led catching situation for a stretch, but it’s not something you want extended into the second half if you can avoid it.

I think this is the kind of update that looks minor on the surface but actually has some ripple effects worth tracking. The Dodgers are already navigating a patchwork roster with Tyler Glasnow working through his throwing progression and Shohei Ohtani recently having a start scratched and moved. Smith being out through the break means the lineup loses one of its steadiest producers during a stretch where consistency matters — especially with the trade deadline starting to come into focus.

Roberts calling it “improbable” rather than ruling it out entirely leaves a sliver of a door open, but let’s be honest — that’s manager-speak for “it’s not happening.” The Dodgers will ride with what they have behind the plate through the break and hope Smith comes back healthy and productive for the second-half push. Given how deep this roster is, they can absorb it. But they’ll feel the absence, particularly in close games where Smith’s bat from the seven or eight hole can flip an at-bat or an inning. We’ll keep an eye on his rehab timeline as we get closer to the break.

Source(s): Staff (LA Times) | First reported: July 2, 2026 1:29 AM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers