Dodgers Injury Update: Will Smith Not Close to Return
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave a concerning update on Will Smith’s neck injury as Los Angeles adds catcher Chase Adkison for depth.
LOS ANGELES, CA—While the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, the celebration was tempered by concerning news from manager Dave Roberts regarding All-Star catcher Will Smith—and the update wasn’t encouraging.
Smith, 31, has been sidelined since June 5th after experiencing neck discomfort prior to Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
While the team and Smith initially downplayed the injury, hoping to avoid an IL stint, that did not prove the case, as the Dodgers placed Smith on the 10-day IL during their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As we approach the two-week mark of the injury, Roberts stated that Smith is still experiencing discomfort during baseball activities and is unlikely to be ready to be activated on Friday before the team's three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Neck injuries are nothing to take lightly, making it understandable that the Dodgers are exercising caution with Smith's return. Before landing on the injured list, the All-Star backstop was putting together a solid season at the plate and remained one of the club's most consistent offensive contributors.
In his absence, the Dodgers recalled minor league catcher Chuckie Robinson, along with giving second-year pro Dalton Rushing the full-time gig behind the plate.
Smith is just one of several injured players for the Dodgers this summer, including a position player group that also includes Teoscar and Kiké Hernández. Still, the team did get a major boost in yesterday’s activation of utilityman Tommy Edman.
Dodgers Sign Chase Adkison
In a possibly related move due to Smith’s injury and the promotion of Chuckie Robinson, the Dodgers have also signed catcher Chase Adkison, who was released by the St. Louis Cardinals organization last week.
Adkison has been assigned to High-A Great Lakes, helping replenish the Dodgers’ catching depth after a series of roster moves sparked by Will Smith’s neck injury. Following Smith’s trip to the injured list and Chuckie Robinson’s promotion to the majors, the Dodgers signed Hayden Gilliland and assigned him to Double-A Tulsa. The addition of Adkison now helps fill the organization’s need for a catcher at the High-A level.
Adkison spent the 2026 season at Double-A, appearing in five games and going 3-for-17 (.176) with a .637 OPS before being released last week after multiple stints on the Development List. Across four minor league seasons, he’s posted a .272 batting average with five home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .754 OPS in 117 career games.