Dodgers' Will Smith just earned impressive franchise history (and seeks MLB record)

Will Smith may not have started Wednesday’s game against the Padres, but he did end it.  Smith clobbered a pinch-hit, walk-off home run at Dodger Stadium against Padres closer Robert Suarez. Not only did the home run secure a series win for the Dodgers, but it also put Smith and his clutch gene in rarefied air.

Smith’s walk-off home run marked the third pinch-hit walk-off dinger of his career, which puts him in a tie for second place all-time with Charlie Culberson, Larry Sheets and Gates Brown. Jason Giambi is first with six.

Dodgers' Will Smith just earned impressive franchise history (and seeks MLB record)

Smith’s first pinch-hit, walk-off home run came nearly five years ago when he crushed a three-run shot against Colorado’s Scott Oberg. It marked the third straight game where a Dodgers rookie crushed a walk-off home run (Matt Beaty and Alex Verdugo hit the first two), and also came in Smith’s first at-bat since being called up from Triple-A earlier in the day. 

His second walk-off came in 2021 against the Giants when he demolished a breaking pitch that Taylor Rogers left on the middle of the plate.

And then there was Wednesday’s blast, which came against one of the best closers in the league. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Smith’s crushed so many pinch-hit, walk-off hits since he’s on the bench more than your average slugger because of the off days that come with catching. He’s been a good pinch-hitter in his career (11-for-36 with three home runs and 11 RBI) and has excelled in the clutch, as evidenced by his .290 batting average in clutch situations. 

While Culberson had two memorable years with the Dodgers that included a walk-off home run in Vin Scully’s final call at Dodger Stadium, none of his pinch-hit walk-offs came with the Dodgers. His first came with the Rockies in 2014 and his last two came with the Braves in 2018. 

Of Giambi’s six pinch-hit walk-offs, one came against the Dodgers in 2012 against Scott Elbert. 

Smith’s blast on Wednesday was another feather in the cap of what’s likely to be an All-Star season. He’s fourth in baseball with a .966 OPS, and he’s now slugged eight home runs. He also leads the National League with a .333 batting average. 

His homer also probably meant a little more considering it knocked the Padres down a peg. The Dodgers' series with San Diego has already included plenty of plunkings, NSFW lip readings and, thanks to Smith, a record-setting home run.

While it takes a lot for a pinch-hit, walk-off home run to happen, Smith's already proven that he'll take advantage when put in that situation. We'll have to wait and see how long it takes for him to be put into it again.