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After ‘long funk’ and struggles with fastballs, has Will Smith rediscovered his swing?

Related Topics: Will Smith, Aaron Bates

Staff WriterFollow

Sept. 28, 2024 9:34 AM PT

DENVER —

Will Smith has hardly been a bad hitter for the Dodgers during the past two seasons.

But, as his offensive production has declined at the plate, with the sixth-year catcher setting career lows for OPS in back-to-back campaigns, there’s been one common denominator to what he’s been missing.

From 2020 to 2022, Smith did much of his damage against four-seam fastballs, batting .292 against the pitch with a .588 slugging percentage, 21 home runs and only an 18.