Dominic Smith (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dominic Smith |
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Smith with the Washington Nationals in 2023
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| New York Yankees | |||
| First baseman / Left fielder | |||
| Born: June 15, 1995 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 11, 2017, for the New York Mets | |||
| Career statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 64 | ||
| Runs batted in | 259 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Dominic David Rene Smith (born June 15, 1995) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a first baseman and left fielder for the New York Yankees organization. He has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, and Cincinnati Reds. The Mets chose him as the 11th overall pick in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, and he started playing in MLB in 2017.
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Early life and high school baseball
Dominic Smith grew up playing baseball in special programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. He also attended the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy. He went to Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California.
At high school, he played baseball as a first baseman, outfielder, and pitcher. In 2013, he helped his team win the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section division championship. Smith had planned to go to the University of Southern California (USC) for college.
Professional baseball career
New York Mets
Starting in the minor leagues
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The Mets picked Dominic Smith in the first round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Instead of going to USC, he signed with the Mets and received a $2.6 million bonus. He started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Mets. There, he hit for a .287 batting average with three home runs.
In 2014, he played for the Savannah Sand Gnats. The next year, 2015, he played for the St. Lucie Mets. After a slow start, Smith improved a lot. He had a 16-game hitting streak and was named the FSL Player of the Year. He led the league with 79 runs batted in (RBIs) and 33 doubles.
In 2016, Smith played for the Binghamton Mets. He had a .302 batting average, 14 home runs, and 91 RBIs. He also played in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. In 2017, he started the season with the Las Vegas 51s, a Triple-A team.
Making it to the Major Leagues (2017–2019)
The Mets called Smith up to the major leagues on August 11, 2017. He made his first MLB appearance that night against the Philadelphia Phillies. He got his first hit, a single, in that game. On August 15, he hit his first major league home run. He finished the 2017 season with a .198 batting average and nine home runs.
In 2018, Smith had some injuries and spent time between the Mets and their minor league team. He batted .224 for the Mets that year.
Before the 2019 season, Smith started using a special machine for sleep apnea. This helped him feel more awake and play better. He made the Mets' opening day roster and played both first base and left field. He had a very good season, but then got a foot injury in July. He returned for the last game of the season. In that game, he hit a three-run walk-off home run in the 11th inning to win the game for the Mets.
Success in 2020
The 2020 season was shorter than usual because of COVID-19. Dominic Smith got more chances to play. He had another great season, hitting .316 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in only 50 games. His .616 slugging percentage was a record for the Mets, even though it was a short season.
After the 2020 season, Smith was a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award. This award goes to the best offensive player in each league. He also finished 13th in the voting for the National League MVP Award.
Challenges in 2021 and 2022
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In 2021, Smith's performance was not as strong. He batted .244 with 11 home runs. Many people thought it was a disappointing season for him. Later, in 2022, he shared that he had played through a partially torn shoulder injury in 2021. This injury affected his swing.
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In 2022, the Mets signed new players, which meant less playing time for Smith. He struggled with his batting average and was sent down to the Triple-A team in Syracuse. He returned later but continued to struggle. After the season, the Mets decided not to offer him a new contract, and he became a free agent.
Washington Nationals
On January 4, 2023, Dominic Smith signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals. He played in a career-high 153 games for Washington. He batted .254 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs. In November 2023, he became a free agent again.
Other teams (2024)
In 2024, Smith signed minor league contracts with the Chicago Cubs and then the Tampa Bay Rays. He played for their Triple-A teams but was released after using a special clause in his contract.
On May 1, 2024, Smith signed a major league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He played in 83 games for Boston, hitting six home runs. He was released by the Red Sox in August.
On August 22, 2024, Smith signed a major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He played in nine games for them before being designated for assignment. He chose to become a free agent again.
New York Yankees
On January 13, 2025, Dominic Smith signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.
Personal life
Dominic Smith's parents are Clabe Smith and Yvette LaFleur. He has several siblings. His mother works in child care, and his father is a dog trainer and groomer. Growing up, Smith was a fan of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team.
In 2017, Smith started a non-profit organization called Baseball Generations. This group helps young baseball players who might not have enough money to develop their skills.
