Overview
- The Dodgers stopped Will Smith’s baseball activities in mid-July after an inflamed cervical disc flared during rehab, and the club says a mid-August return is the earliest realistic best-case timeline.
- Manager Dave Roberts and team trainers shifted to a week of complete rest because repeated attempts to resume hitting and throwing caused symptom setbacks and stalled progress.
- Dalton Rushing has handled primary catching duties while Smith is on the injured list, producing strong offense but drawing clear defensive concerns that include passed balls and low defensive runs saved.
- Front-office discussion now centers on adding a low-cost, defense-first catcher by the Aug. 3 deadline, with familiar depth targets such as Ben Rortvedt frequently mentioned as practical options.
- If Smith remains unavailable, the Dodgers would likely rely on a mix of Rushing and limited internal depth like Eliezer Alfonzo, a change that could affect late-season roster construction and postseason catcher priorities.