Concussion victim Will Smith thinks Marcell Ozuna needs to watch his backswing: "It's not the first time"
Earlier in the season, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith began experiencing symptoms of a concussion. The conditions appeared after taking three foul balls off the helmet in a game against the San Francisco Giants.
Smith, 28, is seen as one of the league's up-and-coming catchers. A .260 hitter last season, he also hit 24 home runs and 87 RBIs for his team. Before the 2023 season, he signed a one-year deal worth $5.25 million with the Dodgers.
In a game between the Dodgers and Atlanta Braves on May 22, Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna flew out to left field. Upon replay, you can clearly see Smith flinch behind the plate as Ozuna swung and hit the Kentucky native on the top of the head with his backswing.
Bullpens empty after Marcell Ozuna's backswing strikes Will Smith
"That's like the fifth time you've done it" https://t.co/kt7hq31Sji
"Bullpens empty after Marcell Ozuna's backswing strikes Will Smith. 'That's like the fifth time you've done it'" - Jomboy Media
After the ball was caught, Smith began deriding Ozuna for his backswing. It was not long before the two players became quite aggravated with each other and both dugouts soon emptied out on to the field.
Smith was back in the lineup after missing several games in the past week with an illness. Following the game, Will Smith took aim at Marcell Ozuna, claiming that this was not the first time that his careless backswing had endangered a catcher. He said:
"I was just mad. He hit me in the head with his bat pretty hard. It's not the first time he's done it to me. He's done it to other catchers around the league."
Will Smith responded to today's events after Marcell Ozuna made contact with him on a backswing.
Smith expressed concern with being hit, recently recovering from a concussion.
h/t @FabianArdaya https://t.co/ZweLLiEjEV
"Will Smith responded to today's events after Marcell Ozuna made contact with him on a backswing. Smith expressed concern with being hit, recently recovering from a concussion." - FOX Sports: MLB
Marcell Ozuna is a 6-foot-1 power hitter who led the MLB in home runs during the shortened 2020 season. A high powered hitter, Ozuna is known to swing for the fences, and his name is often found near the top of the MLB's strikeout list.
The game between the Atlanta Braves and LA Dodgers was an important one. Both teams are leading their division, and hope to add space between themselves and second place. After hostilities from the incident died down, the Los Angeles Dodgers emerged victorious by a score of 8-6.
Will Smith incident highlights the dangers of being an MLB catcher
Being a catcher in the MLB can be a thankless job. Often caught between barelling baserunners and wild pitches, things can be overwhelming even when you don't have to worry about being plunked by a bat. Will Smith, who has a history of concussions, is right to bring up this important, and often underlooked facet of general player safety.