"Dominic's splits make the case for his contribution as a Braves. He had a 119 wRC+ versus righties last season and a 100 wRC+ for his career. So as long as that's all the Braves are asking him to do, it will be fine."
"Travis had a .745 OPS in 2019 versus .750 for Smith's 2025 season. Travis had 2.79 strikeouts per walk and Smith was at 2.65. Smith had a 111 wRC+ against Travis's 100. So you don't have to squint too hard on the overall numbers."
Dominic Smith appears likely to make the Opening Day roster as the designated hitter against right-handed pitching following the departures of Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar. Smith's 2025 statistics closely parallel Travis d'Arnaud's 2019 season, with both posting similar OPS figures around .745-.750 and comparable strikeout-to-walk ratios. Smith demonstrates particular strength against right-handed pitchers with a 119 wRC+, compared to his 100 wRC+ career average. While d'Arnaud's 2019 season might be preferable for providing catcher depth and allowing more flexibility in the lineup, Smith's performance metrics suggest he can adequately fill the designated hitter role if limited to facing right-handed pitching.
#dominic-smith #opening-day-roster #designated-hitter #right-handed-pitching-splits #statistical-comparison
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