Dominic Smith homered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning for a walk-off grand slam, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on March 28, 2026, at Truist Park in Atlanta.[1][2]
The victory marked Smith's major league debut with the Braves, his sixth different team over the past four seasons. The 30-year-old first baseman/outfielder had previously played for the New York Mets from 2017 to 2022, followed by stints with the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox in 2023, Cincinnati Reds in 2024, and San Francisco Giants in 2025.[3]
Smith's mother, Yvette LaFleuer, died of cancer earlier in March 2026 after a diagnosis in September 2025. She experienced a medical scare at the start of Braves spring training, prompting Smith to leave the team for more than a week.[1]
"It’s just amazing," Smith said after the game. "Played against the Braves for a long time, and being on the other side a lot of these endings kind of hurt, so to be on the right side of it this time was so fun."[1][2]
Smith credited his new teammates for their support during his mother's illness. "This team is just so awesome. I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day," he said. "They’re asking about her, asking about her well-being, my well-being, and that’s all they really cared about. They didn’t care about baseball."[1]
The grand slam made Smith the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut game with a new team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.[2]
In 2025, Smith hit five home runs with 33 RBI in 63 games for the Giants.[3]
Sources
- Associated Press. "Atlanta Braves celebrate walk-off grand slam by Dominic Smith against Royals." March 28, 2026. https://apnews.com/article/braves-royals-smith-grand-slam-2026
- Atlanta Braves official website. "Smith's walk-off grand slam lifts Braves over Royals in debut." March 29, 2026. https://www.braves.com/news/smith-walkoff-grand-slam-royals-3-28-26
- MLB.com. "Dominic Smith player page and career stats." Accessed October 2024. https://www.mlb.com/player/dominic-smith-641857
