July 28th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Although it undoubtedly took longer than every Dodger fan on the planet would have liked, Dodgers top-ranked catching prospect Will Smith was finally called back up from Triple-A Oklahoma City and struggling catcher Austin Barnes optioned back down on Friday. And even though Smith sat out Friday night’s game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in our nation’s capital, he did not sit out on Saturday afternoon.
All the 24-year-old Louisville, KY native and the Dodgers 2016 first-round draft pick (out of the University of Louisville) did was go 3-for-3 at the plate with a solo home run in the top of the third inning, hit a RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth, hit a RBI double in the sixth, and hit a bases-clearing three-run double in the seventh.
When the dust finally settled in the Dodgers eventual 9-3 pounding of the Nats, Smith had driven in six of the Dodgers nine runs, becoming the first Dodger rookie with six or more RBI in a game since James Loney recorded nine on September 28, 2006.
But wait … there’s more!
Smith also joined Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Bernie Hungling (April 26, 1922) and Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Al Lopez (August 13, 1930) as the only Dodgers rookie catchers to drive in six runs in a game. He is, however, the only Los Angeles Dodgers rookie catcher with a six-RBI game, surpassing Mike Piazza’s previous record high of five RBI, which he did twice during his rookie season with the Dodgers; the last being on June 21, 1993.
In his nine games with the major league Dodgers, Smith is 10-for-29 (.345) with three doubles, four home runs, and 12 RBI. By every indication and with Barnes having been optioned back to Triple-A OKC (his last), there is every reason to believe that Will Smith is finally here to stay. In fact, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said as much prior to Friday’s game in DC.
So what does all of this have to do with the title of this piece, you ask?
At the risk of redundancy and despite Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman’s reluctance in re-calling Smith (having already optioned him back to OKC twice since May 27), the early returns on his ridiculously bold prediction when pitchers and catchers reported for spring training on February 13, 2019, is now officially (and clearly) in motion.
On that very pleasant Wednesday morning in the executive lounge at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ, Friedman proclaimed that a then 23-year-old Will Smith, who had received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training camp, is – and I quote – “Will Smith is a Hall of Fame catcher.” Friedman didn’t say an All-Star catcher, a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger catcher, he said: “…a Hall of Fame catcher.”
Obviously, we won’t know for another 15 years (or so) whether or not Friedman’s lofty prediction is accurate or merely executive hyperbole. But one thing is for certain – you’ve got to love what you are seeing out of the gate from the former University of Louisville Cardinal.
Play Ball!
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With a quote like that from Friedman we can pretty much pack Ruiz’s bags for him.
I know he said he was a Hall of Fame catcher but, i don’t think i’d be tossing young Kiebert (Ruiz) away yet, as one fan
Suggested. Catching is a tough job especially when youre always working on your defense (base stealers, bunts, blocks) and hitting the cage too. Struggling at either, and it will happen, can get you back to the minors quickly. I would probably keep both. Smith probably can play 2nd, 3rd, or OF. Im pretty sure the Dodgers tried him at both IF positions
In the minors. No one man is going to catch every game anyway. Very few do it well enough to be in the HOF.
That’s as bold as it gets for a kid who never received a ball in MLB
It looks like we finally got ourselves a catcher.
Well, that’s one key piece to this year’s WS puzzle officially put into place (and yeah, shame on Friedman for taking so long to figure it out when he KNEW Barnes was costing them games they had no business losing the moment Smith got sent back down the second time). From the looks of things on the trade market right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers back away from pursuing that late-inning bullpen arm and just go all-in on acquiring an extra starter instead. Can’t really be gambling on Hill’s forearm injury healing up in time for the playoffs considering his age and at least one of the rotation guys is gonna get moved to the pen anyway:::cough:::Maeda:::cough:::
Oh, and if they’re DEAD serious about going after some real middle-infield depth without needing to call up MLB-ready stud Gavin Lux (would rather roll with Lux at this point, to be honest) they can just ship Joc Pederson and a blocked MLB-ready prospect like Edwin Rios or Zach Reks for Whit Merrifield of the Royals for example.
This worked out just fine concerning the catcher position. Will Smith forced the issue with his previous time in LA and down in AAA. Provided his defense holds up as expected, he would be a huge upgrade with the bat if he hits at a league average level compared to Barnes and Martin. In the 8 spot of the order that will make for a meat grinder of a lineup. If he hits better than that, gravy!
And IRT the above idea of getting Merrifield from KC for scrap parts?! No way in heck that happens. It would be more than Pittsburgh wants for Vazquez. Above average players on contract for several years at below market rates are the most valuable asset for MLB teams. It would be 2+ of the the Big 4 for KC to even answer the call.
So Joc Pederson is considered “scrap”, you say? Lol, whatever…
IDK at this point but middle inf. help now is necessary and preferably one that bats RH, as we have lost 2 RH hitters in Kike and Taylor so once again the team appears a bit vulnerable to the better LHP in the league and especially in the PS.