Dominic Smith propelled the Atlanta Braves to their second win of the 2026 season after hitting a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on March 28. Coming into the season, Smith was filled with emotions after dealing with the passing of his mother nearly two weeks prior.

Smith did not disappoint in his Braves debut, and it will be a game that he’ll remember for a long time. After the win over the Royals, Smith said that he felt his mother’s presence when he hit the grand slam.

“I definitely did,” Smith said in an article from mlb.com. “I got choked up a bunch of times and I’m trying to hold back tears right now. It’s just so special. I feel her every day. I miss her dearly. There’s not a moment where I don’t think about her.”

Smith’s mother was battling cancer before her death and the Braves have done nothing but show Smith their support during this time for him.

“I left camp for like a week and a half because she had a scare,” Smith said. “This team is just so awesome. I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me.” Smith can make an immediate impact in his first year with the Braves, and he has already shown that he can put the Braves in positions to win games.

Dominic Smith’s Time in the League

Smith has bounced around the league the last few years, playing for his fourth team since the 2024 season. He will look to make a home with the Braves as the team signed him to a split contract for the season.

Dominic Smith Holding It Down for the Giants at First Base

Before joining the Braves, Smith spent the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants. He appeared in 63 games and hit .284 with five home runs and 33 RBI. Prior to the Giants, Smith played for the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds during the 2024 season and he spent one season with the Washington Nationals in 2023.

He spent a majority of his career with the New York Mets from 2017 to 2023. Through 758 career games, he’s carrying a .250 batting average with 70 home runs and 296 RBI. Smith has spent time going back from the minors to the majors in recent seasons, but there’s no question that he has the skillset to stay in the big leagues.

Smith’s Impact in Atlanta

Smith is a player who possesses a lot of power at the plate and can make a significant impact in the Braves lineup. Atlanta missed out on the postseason last season after making seven consecutive trips and winning the World Series in 2021.

The Braves will look to get back to the postseason and Smith will have the opportunity to play a key role and potentially stay with the team full time. He can play multiple positions in the field and can be utilized as a designated hitter as well. Options are abundant. The Braves will have an opportunity to see how much an impact Smith will have this season.