A first-round pick and top prospect, he entered professional baseball with expectations of stardom. But in recent years, he has bounced between organizations, signing short-term deals and fighting to keep his MLB career alive.
Even through all of that uncertainty, the people around him say his approach never wavered. Smith has maintained a good attitude everywhere he’s been, including with the Atlanta Braves. He signed a minor-league deal with the team in spring training without any assurances about what his role might become.
He turned the opportunity into a spot on the Opening Day roster. A few months later, Smith has emerged as one of the team’s most valuable spot contributors.
“There’s some humbling that goes on there,” said outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, his teammate in San Francisco for a few months last season. “He took that really well, as a new opportunity, and was never asking for anything. He was always in a good mood, trying to figure out what way he could be there for the team.”
Among players with at least 100 plate appearances, Smith’s .325 batting average ranks third in MLB. He has been especially effective in clutch situations, hitting 11-for-29 with runners in scoring position. He has also had two games with four RBIs this season.
“When we signed him, you’re wondering about where the fit is,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “But he has hit his way into the lineup.”
Dom Smith said he was approached by Peter Fatse about retooling parts of his swing back to his high school days.
“A lot of coaches said this wouldn’t work, and he said this is how YOU swing, how YOU create power, and this is how YOU are.” pic.twitter.com/jbcWi3Vv3S
Yet, it’s not only production at the plate Atlanta is getting. Smith’s been most valuable in the clubhouse.
“My mom just raised me to treat people with respect,” Smith said recently. “I bring a certain energy every day. I like to have fun, I can joke around, but also have a seriousness about winning and preparation and taking care of business.”
Smith was one of the top prep players in the country coming out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif., in 2013. After the New York Mets selected him in the first round and signed him for $2.6 million, he quickly slotted in among the best prospects in pro ball.
He went on to have an uneven career in New York after debuting in 2017, never quite reaching the ceiling many evaluators envisioned for him before he was granted free agency after the 2022 season.
As the years went on, Smith gradually embraced a role-playing identity wherever he went — whether that meant providing depth, veteran leadership or bringing energy to his teammates every day.
“There’s guys who complain, or say they’re not getting paid to do that,” Yastrzemski said. “Dominic is the complete opposite of that. He’s ready for all the moments. He wants to be in the lineup at all times, and that’s something that has really helped this clubhouse just like really gravitate toward him.”
While Smith settled into different roles throughout his career, he also began to give back to his community. As a kid growing up in Compton, Calif., he understood firsthand how important it is for inner-city kids to have role models from their own communities. For Smith, having that impact is just as meaningful as whatever he accomplishes on the field.
Now more than a decade into his professional career, that’s the guidepost he follows every day. He’s pleased with his career resurgence in Atlanta — especially after his mother died of cancer mere weeks before he hit a walk-off grand slam during the season’s opening weekend — but the impression he leaves on his teammates and those around him is the legacy Smith hopes he leaves behind.
“I don’t take this for granted,” Smith said. “Every time I wake up, that’s on my mind, especially when I get to the ballpark and understand that, yeah, this is something I love to do, but it’s way bigger than me.”
Substitute Yoane Wissa scored twice to give Matthias Jaissle a winning start as Newcastle boss with a 2-1 comeback pre-season win at 10-man Valencia.
But the friendly at the Mestalla threatened to be overshadowed by Jose Gaya’s red-card horror tackle on Anthony Elanga, which saw the Newcastle winger stretchered off in the first half and led to both sets of players clashing.
Fortunately for the Sweden international, his injury does not appear to be serious, with Elanga later up and walking after a contusion to the shin.
Image: Tempers flared after Jose Gaya’s challenge saw Anthony Elanga stretchered off
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Jaissle was “relaxed” over Elanga’s injury.
The German said: “It seems to be not bad, so we are pleased. I hope it’s true, then he can start again next week.”
He added: “Of course I was in fear [it was a serious injury], definitely, but now I’m more relaxed as the medical department is showing almost green lights, and there’s nothing serious.”
Jaissle’s next pre-season test will come on Wednesday as his new side face Everton at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
Image: Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade (left) started at the Mestalla
Wissa’s fresh start under Jaissle
Sky Sports News’ Keith Downie at the Mestalla:
“A good end to a positive week in Spain for Newcastle – and a trophy for Jaissle in his first match in charge as they lift the ‘Orange Cup’.
“Some impressive signs from new signings Aladji Bamba, Steur and Toure.
“Newcastle’s travelling fans sent home from The Mestalla with a spring in their step.
“One major positive was Wissa’s performance.
“Newcastle really need him to come good this season. It was a huge £55m outlay on a 29-year-old, and last season was a nightmare for him.
“He looks sharp and is coming off a good World Cup showing. Maybe this could be a fresh start for the striker.”
Jaissle keeping ‘balanced’ after debut win
Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle speaking at his post-match press conference:
“First of all, I’m really happy that there are no serious injuries. Anthony, we are happy, and it seems to be okay, actually – that was the most important thing.
“Of course, winning games always helps to gain confidence, but we also knew that we had a hard week behind us. The players did well in the camp; there was a pure commitment in each session.
“We had a hard load, so therefore now we deserve two days off, and then we start again.
“It was a friendly today; we will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot.
“We’re quite balanced; we know what it is about. Now it’s pre-season, and we’re still looking to work on it.
“It’s just a journey; we don’t want to hang onto that.
“The victory is higher than it is, but also we don’t see the losses lower than it is then, so we should be quite balanced in our approach.
“We should just analyse the situation and develop from there, and that’s what we’re going to do.
“Now next week, there are things we need to work on, definitely.”
Ireland’s Aaron McKenna defeated Etinosa Oliha to become a middleweight world champion.
For McKenna this fight in Dublin was a dream homecoming. The Irish middleweight had pursued his career across America, sparring in some of the world’s best gyms and amassing an undefeated pro record.
This contest, for the vacant IBF middleweight title, was his first world title fight and his first professional contest in Ireland.
With brother Stevie taking a spectacular knockout earlier, McKenna made a memorable entrance, wildly cheered into the ring by the 3Arena crowd, so loudly that the floor was almost rumbling.
But he didn’t let emotions carry him away at the start of the fight. He edged forward onto the front foot, feinting. He timed a left hook as Oliha, unbeaten himself coming in, stepped to him.
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Aaron McKenna had an incredible entrance ahead of his IBF world middleweight title fight with Etinosa Oliha, first coming into Sinead O’Connor’s The Foggy Dew and then Faithless’ Insomnia!
McKenna let his jab flicker out. His hands were quick, his right streaked in and McKenna used his left hook to let a cross blast through.
But the Italian wrested the second round his way, thumping through right hooks, punches McKenna felt, to show that he too could launch meaningful attacks.
McKenna ground forward, stifling his own long-range work but bodily forcing Oliha back.
When he did strike his opponent with a reaching right, the crowd roared and as the fight progressed into its second half McKenna did move more on his toes, darting back to scrape his left hook into the side of Oliha’s head.
The Italian looked to rip hooks into him but McKenna marshalled him to the ropes and slugged Oliha with a left hook.
Image: McKenna and Oliha were both unbeaten coming into this world title fight
McKenna imposed himself again in the ninth round but Oliha, a solid operator, showed little sign of wilting.
In the 10th round McKenna circled out and reeled off double jabs. As they grappled in a clinch though, Oliha unleashed a flurry that caught the Irishman.
McKenna briefly put space between them with a cross to the chin. He scored to the body with thudding right hooks too.
Oliha charged from his corner with a long one-two to start the 11th round. With flashier work, McKenna landed a left uppercut off his jab. Oliha though hacked back at him with a right hook up close.
McKenna continued to punch in greater volume. A clash saw him cut on the forehead just before the end of the 11th. He trusted in a hefty right hook as a response.
Image: McKenna tears into Oliha.
He didn’t want or need to take risks in the last round. He moved sharply, striking an increasingly desperate Oliha with jabs and the crowd all around him stood up cheering, clapping and chanting his name.
McKenna worked an uppercut, Oliha drove in a right but even when McKenna took shots he didn’t let them shake him as he closed out a unanimous decision.
When that final bell chimed, McKenna rushed to the corner post and jumped up onto the ropes to celebrate.
As soon as the words “from Monaghan” were declared by the ring announcer, confirming McKenna a 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 victor, the arena burst into deafening cheers once again.
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Aaron McKenna was in buoyant mood after beating Etinosa Oliha to become IBF world middleweight champion in front of his home crowd in Dublin.
“A new world champion. I’ve been saying it for years. A big thank you to Zuffa Boxing for giving me this platform and bringing a fight back to Ireland for me,” McKenna beamed afterwards.
“I’ve been a professional for nine years and never got the chance to fight in Ireland. Why? Just look at these beautiful fans.
“I never lost discipline in training. There were times when I wondered whether I’d ever get the chance.
“My dad [their trainer] sacrificed his whole life for me and my brother, dedicating everything to helping us chase our dreams.
Beau Hossler leads the field at the 2026 Wyndham Championship after three rounds of play, with a score of -16. Play continues at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, NC, watch the fourth round to see how the action plays out.
11:50 a.m. ET: Joel Dahmen (-8/21st), Sungjae Im (-8/21st)
12 p.m. ET: Jordan Spieth (-8/21st), Justin Thomas (-8/21st)
12:10 p.m. ET: Webb Simpson (-8/21st), Ben Kohles (-8/21st)
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