Opinion: Why Dominic Smith’s walk opening week hit was so special

Dominic Smith (YouTube)

When the Atlanta Braves signed outfielder Dominic Smith of Los Angeles, California to a minor league contract in February, it was an accomplishment for him just to make the Atlanta Braves club and being rewarded with a major league contract (one year, $1.25 million according to Spotrac). However, after the first six days of the 2026 MLB regular season, you could make the argument that Smith delivered the most dramatic hit in all of baseball for the year. On Saturday, Smith hit a walk off grand slam as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-2.

Smith was the designated hitter in the game. He broke a 2-2 tie and scored pinch runner Eli White of Greenville, South Carolina, second baseman Ozzie Albies of Willemstad, Curacao, and Michael Harris II of DeKalb, Georgia.

It should be noted that Smith’s grand slam had personal significance. That is because his mother Yvette passed away of cancer on March 15 according to Kari Anderson of Yahoo! Sports, and in his post-game interview Smith was very emotional.

The Braves were in need of another bat after it was announced that Jurickson Profar would be suspended the entire 2026 Major League Baseball regular season with a second failed drug test. So far, Smith has cone through in a big way.

The Braves are Smith’s sixth MLB team after six seasons with the New York Mets, and time with the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. Last season in San Francisco, Smith batted .284 with five home runs and 33 runs batted in.