Will Smith hit his first MLB home run in dramatic fashion, walking it off in the bottom of the ninth. The Dodgers rookie, playing in just his fourth big league game and entering with only three hits in 15 plate appearances, faced a 3-2 count. The pitcher had been feeding him splitters all at-bat, and on the full-count pitch, Smith sent another splitter deep to left. Right off the bat, he knew it had the distance. He gave it a quick bat drop and watched, hoping it wouldn’t be robbed. It cleared the short left-field fence, and the Dodgers bullpen erupted.
After he crossed the plate, the team mobbed him at home. Justin Turner sprayed him right in the face with water, perfectly timed. Joc Pederson threw a few body shots during the celebration, something of a tradition for him after walk-offs. Players yanked Smith’s jersey off during the chaos. The camera also caught a couple of dads in the stands shaking their kids in celebration, copying each other with a proud “me too” energy.
The video ends with a great audio moment. One of the Dodgers’ relievers, who had blown the lead earlier, looked relieved and smiled while a young fan nearby let out a loud, pure cheer. It was a perfect mix of rookie heroics and low-key comedy, topped off with a kid’s honest joy.