Braves' Dominic Smith hits walk-off home run nearly 2 weeks after mother's death

Dominic Smith was playing pinch a dense bosom erstwhile he made his Atlanta Braves debut connected Saturday nighttime – his sixth squad successful 4 years.

Smith’s mother, Yvette LaFleuer, died of crab earlier this month. When Smith stepped up to nan sheet against nan Kansas City Royals successful nan bottommost of nan ninth pinch nan bases loaded, he said he could consciousness her beingness pinch him.

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The Atlanta Braves observe astatine location sheet aft a walk-off expansive slam from Dominic Smith, center, successful nan ninth inning of a shot crippled against nan Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

The slugger deed a walk-off expansive slam to triumph nan crippled for nan Braves, 6-2.

"It’s conscionable amazing," he told reporters. "Played against nan Braves for a agelong time, and being connected nan different broadside a batch of these endings benignant of hurt, truthful to beryllium connected nan correct broadside of it this clip was truthful fun."

Smith said that his teammates had been very supporting of him during spring training erstwhile his mother was ill. She was diagnosed pinch crab successful September and astir died astatine nan commencement of camp.

He near nan squad to beryllium pinch her for complete a week erstwhile she had a "scare" and erstwhile he returned, he was fighting for a roster spot.

Atlanta Braves' Dominic Smith reacts aft hitting a walk-off expansive slam successful nan ninth inning of a shot crippled against nan Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, successful Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

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"This squad is conscionable truthful awesome," Smith said. "I’m truthful blessed because of nan emotion they showed me, nan support each day. They’re asking astir her, asking astir her well-being, my well-being, and that’s each they really cared about. They didn’t attraction astir baseball."

Smith’s walk-off expansive slam made him nan first subordinate successful MLB history to execute nan infinitesimal successful his debut pinch a caller team, according to nan Elias Sports Bureau.

Smith has been trying to find a imperishable location aft spending his first six years pinch nan New York Mets. He played for nan Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants since leaving New York.

Atlanta Braves' Dominic Smith (8) hits a walk-off expansive slam successful nan ninth inning of a shot crippled against nan Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, successful Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

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Last year, Smith had 5 location runs and 33 RBI successful 63 games pinch nan Giants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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