The Los Angeles Dodgers placed catcher Will Smith on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation Thursday, a short-term but important MLB roster move before their series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dodgers Move Will Smith To Injured List
The Dodgers made the move with Smith, a three-time All-Star, before facing the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The placement was retroactive to Monday, and Los Angeles expects him to return when he is eligible next Thursday.
Smith has hit .249 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 52 games this season. For the Dodgers, that is production from a premium defensive position, and it explains why even a brief absence is more than a line on a transaction sheet.
Chuckie Robinson Added From Oklahoma City
Los Angeles purchased the contract of catcher Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City to cover the roster spot. Dalton Rushing is expected to handle the bulk of the catching duties while Smith is sidelined.
The move gives the Dodgers a clearer short-term catching plan without rushing Smith back before the 10-day window closes. The club did not announce a longer absence, and AP reported that the expectation is for Smith to return when eligible.
MLB Injury Note Comes During Dodgers-Pirates Series
The timing leaves the Dodgers adjusting behind the plate during the final game of a three-game series in Pittsburgh. Smith had recently been pictured catching during the Dodgers' June 5 game against the Los Angeles Angels, but the injured-list move is tied specifically to neck inflammation.
For now, the Dodgers' task is simple enough: get through the next week with Rushing taking most of the innings and Robinson available as depth. If Smith returns on schedule, it becomes a manageable June interruption rather than a larger roster problem.