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Will Smith is receiving a cortisone injection for the neck stiffness that has kept him sidelined since June 6, per DodgerBlue.com. What the Dodgers initially expected to be a one-game absence has now stretched past two weeks, and the club’s early optimism that Smith could avoid the injured list didn’t hold — he was placed on the 10-day IL on June 11. The cortisone shot represents the next step in getting our starting catcher back on the field, but it also signals that simple rest wasn’t enough to resolve the issue.

Smith has been one of the most reliable catchers in the National League since establishing himself as the Dodgers’ everyday backstop. A first-round pick out of the 2016 draft, he’s built a reputation as a switch-hitter with legitimate pop from both sides of the plate — a rarity at the catcher position. Over recent seasons, Smith has consistently posted above-average offensive numbers for a catcher while handling a pitching staff that, on paper, is one of the deepest in baseball. His bat in the middle of our lineup isn’t something you just replace, and two weeks without it has been felt. Neck injuries for catchers are particularly concerning given the physical demands of the position — the constant crouching, the framing, the snap throws to second. A cortisone injection suggests inflammation that wasn’t calming down on its own, and while cortisone often provides relief, there’s always the question of whether it addresses the root cause or just masks symptoms long enough to get a player back in action.

The timing here matters. Smith was scratched from the lineup on June 6 with what was described as neck stiffness — the kind of thing that usually resolves with a day or two off. When it didn’t, the Dodgers took the IL route on June 11, backdating it to give themselves a head start on the clock. Now, with the cortisone injection happening on June 20, we’re looking at a scenario where Smith likely needs a few days for the injection to take full effect, followed by some sort of ramp-up period before he’s ready to catch in live games again. That could mean a rehab assignment, or it could mean Smith returns directly if he responds well. Either way, a return before the end of June feels optimistic but not impossible.

For the Dodgers, this is a roster reality we’ve been managing for a couple of weeks now, and credit to the front office for not rushing Smith back when the initial timeline proved too aggressive. The catching depth has been tested, and while the club has gotten by, Smith’s absence leaves a noticeable gap both offensively and behind the plate. I’d rather have him right than have him back too soon and dealing with this again in August when the games carry even more weight. The cortisone injection is a good sign that there’s a clear treatment path — but this is one I’ll be watching closely as we move toward the end of June and into July.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: June 20, 2026 4:26 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers