Dominic Smith won’t likely win a ballot battle against Shohei Ohtani. But that doesn’t rule out the possibility of the Braves designated hitter experiencing the thrill of going from non-roster invitee to All-Star during the same year. Smith strengthened his All-Star resume and further endeared himself to Braves fans during a 6-3 win over the Pirates on Saturday afternoon at Truist Park. The veteran left-handed hitter highlighted his two-hit day with an opposite-field home run during the decisive three-run fifth. View this post on Instagram “He's just a good hitter,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He's in a really good place. He's got a plan. You can see it and he executes it. He’s been huge for us.” Weiss entered this season intent on utilizing many different players in the designated hitter’s spot. Smith’s production has prevented him from doing this when the opposing team is starting a right-handed pitcher. The 30-year-old has hit .309 with six home runs and an .830 OPS through his first 149 plate appearances of the season.
