Dodgers minors: Will Smith homers in first rehab game

Los Angeles, CA - August 14:Dodgers Will Smith throws before the start of the game against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, August 14, 2026. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images A rare player who has been here for a

What is the story about?

A rare player who has been here for all three championships in this run of success, Will Smith got off on the right foot in his rehab assignment with the Comets—it was the highlight of a Tuesday of close games in the Dodgers’ minor league system.

Player of the day

Without any standout performers, and despite his team ultimately losing, Will Smith gets the Player of the Day vote for showing no rust in his first game back. The standout catcher needed just three at-bats to leave the yard in his first appearance with the Comets

this season.

It had been nearly three months since the last time Smith took the field, and his return could not come a moment too soon. The next step will be for him to play a full game, having left this one after five innings behind the dish.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Will Smith’s home run is far more important than a 4-3 defeat for the Comets, who still sit in first place in the East Division, dropping this close contest against the Chihuahuas. On top of leaving the yard, it should be noted that Smith also left his mark on the defensive side, throwing out Samad Taylor at second in one of two stolen base attempts against him.

By the time Smith homered in the fifth, the Comets already trailed in this one four to zip. Starter Landon Knack had his worst performance since getting demoted back to Triple-A, failing to finish three full innings, walking three and striking out just one.

Double-A Tulsa

Coming up to bat 15 times with at least one runner in scoring position and coming away with a mere two runs guaranteed a 5-2 defeat for the Drillers’ offense, leaving loads of chances on the table trailing right from the off. Starter Adam Serwinowski allowed a pair of runs in the first in what would be a troublesome outing, conceding five total in 5.2 innings.

Not recording a hit as the top two in the order reached base only once in 10 tries, Josue De Paula ended the evening with a .312 batting average on the season. It was only De Paula’s fourth hitless game out of 35 in which he had at least five at-bats. Equally impressive this season, Mike Sirota did record a knock and a walk but couldn’t make an impact on the scoreboard.

High-A Great Lakes

Doubling their opponents’ strikeout totals (16-8), the Loons narrowly beat out the Lugnuts thanks to a two-run eighth inning to come from behind and secure their 67th win. In a game in which extra-base hits were scarce, a wild pitch brought in the winning run for the Great Lakes, with Eduardo Guerrero crossing the plate in the eighth. The only Loons player to record multiple hits, Mairo Martinus carries on a seamless transition to High-A, with an .834 OPS in 19 games since the promotion.

After back-to-back six-plus-inning starts, Sterling Patick was held to a shorter appearance because of command problems, walking four in 4.1 innings. And providing the ultimate shutdown inning, the one right after taking the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, Davis Chastain earned the save, striking out the side to wrap up this victory.

Class-A Ontario

For the symmetry fans out there, the Tower Buzzers had the rare event of each one of their nine starting hitters recording exactly one hit. It was not enough for the win, as the Ports made more out of their six hits to beat the Tower Buzzers 5-4.

Two of those nine hits from Ontario were solo shots, including teenage shortstop Aidan West’s first home run in Class A, only making his 11th start after starting his season in rookie ball. The other home run came from a more experienced Tower Buzzers hitter in Ching-Hsien Ko, now one short of 20 on the year.

The loss was a harsh fate for reliever Mason Estrada, who allowed just one hit in three innings of work. Estrada let in the winning run on a sac fly to the Ports’ cleanup hitter, Gavin Turley, who struck out in his other three at-bats in that game.

Transactions

Will Smith began a rehab assignment with the Oklahoma City Comets. Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Hernández was assigned to the Comets. Righty Nick Putnam was assigned to the Tulsa Drillers.