The Dodgers have announced that Will Smith is set to make a comeback, though it remains uncertain if he will be ready to catch in Shohei Ohtani’s first game.

Los Angeles Dodgers' main catcher Will Smith is nearing his return behind the plate after sidelining late in the regular season with a hand bone bruise that left him unable to throw for a period. Manager Dave Roberts commented before the NL Division Series, “He’s making daily progress and is about to start live batting drills. We are still evaluating his progress, and if all goes well, we might carry three catchers on the roster for the series.”

In the NL Division Series opener (Game 1) against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Dodgers will start Shohei Ohtani on the mound. Roberts revealed that Ohtani’s physical condition is fully restored, allowing him to pitch without restrictions on pitch count or innings. “We hope he can go as deep as the sixth or even the seventh inning.”

However, Smith is unlikely to be ready to start as catcher in Game 1. The Dodgers also have catchers Ben Rortvedt and Dalton Rushing on the roster, and all three were included on the Wild Card Series roster. Roberts said, “It’s still uncertain if he can catch in the first game, but he will definitely return at some point. He hasn’t played in a while, so we need to be cautious in our evaluation.” Since Ohtani is fixed as the designated hitter (DH), if Smith can’t catch, he might only appear as a pinch hitter.

Roberts especially praised Rortvedt’s performance during his time filling in: “He’s an unsung hero who stepped in for a star catcher. He’s very selfless, defensively reliable, with accurate throws and a clear understanding of the game. He knows his role in the lineup, can advance runners, select pitches well, and get key hits when it counts. He’s truly outstanding, taking on a tough job and executing it very well.”