The San Francisco Giants have been in search of offense for much of 2025. Due to a couple of IL stints from Matt Chapman and underperformance from their new shortstop, Willy Adames, the Giants were in need of juice in their lineup in any capacity.

 

Ten days before their league-shaking acquisition of Rafael Devers, San Francisco brought in veteran Dominic Smith on a major-league deal with the hope that he could fill the team’s hole at first base. Even when Devers was brought to the Bay, he needed time and practice to become comfortable at first, which was a new position for him.

Smith has tried to work back into a regular role at the big-league level for several seasons now.

Dom Smith Broke Out In 2020 Season 

After his breakout campaign in the truncated 2020 season with the New York Mets – where he posted a 193 OPS+ – Smith has experienced a dropoff in production since. His OPS+ dropped to 83 the following season and then fell by 20 percent more the year after. He was non-tendered by the Mets in the 2022 offseason and caught on with the Washington Nationals.

Smith improved from his final season in Queens, but still was below average offensively in the nation’s capital, as well as his next stops in the Bronx, Boston, and Cincinnati.

 

Dom Smith Has Become Offensive Weapon For Giants 

 

But since he arrived in San Fran, Smith has slashed .292/.343/.415. He has been primarily a weapon against righties, but overall, Smith has been a threat at the dish. He has hit .338 with a .904 OPS with runners in scoring position. Smith’s profile as a hitter shows him squaring the ball up optimally and having barrel accuracy with his sweet spot, while posting above-average walk and strikeout rates. He’s clocked four homers and 12 doubles while driving in 31 runs so far this season.

 

He has arguably been the team’s most consistent offensive player in the 60-game span since he was signed and filled in admirably for a Giants squad that has remained in contention throughout their struggles at the plate.

The team did a soft sell at the deadline, shipping off two relievers as well as Mike Yastrzemski. But they are 72-71 through 143 games and tied with the Reds for the first spot outside of the NL Wild Card race, four games back of Smith’s former team, the Mets.

 

Smith has racked up just over six years of service time in his career and is still just 30 years old. The left-handed first baseman’s performance in 2025 has proved he still has gas in the tank and has certainly upped his stock as Smith heads for another offseason of free agency. His value exudes as a killer against righties and as a steady, experienced presence in the clubhouse as he continues to rack up dirt in his spikes.