Overview
- Smith ripped a two-out, bases-clearing double Tuesday in the eighth inning to flip a 5-3 deficit into a 6-5 win over the Marlins, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
- Through mid-April, he is batting .395 with a 1.099 OPS and 15 RBIs, production that outlets have framed as one of the best value returns in the league so far.
- He joined Atlanta on a minor-league deal late in spring, forced his way onto the roster, and has mostly worked as designated hitter with a limited number of starts.
- In his March 28 debut, he became the first player to hit a walk-off grand slam in his team debut, according to the Braves citing Elias Sports Bureau.
- The surge comes in a small sample, and the expected return of catcher Sean Murphy could reduce his at-bats even as Smith credits recent hitting talks with Barry Bonds and Chipper Jones.