Dominic Smith

Dominic Smith Bio

Dominic David Rene Smith is an American professional baseball first baseman and left fielder who has spent several seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the New York Mets with the 11th overall pick of the 2013 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2017. Across his career, he has played for the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants.

A left-handed batter, Smith has also spent time developing in the minor leagues and bouncing between organizations as he has looked for steady playing time. He continues to compete professionally in MLB.

Early Life and Background

Dominic David Rene Smith was born on June 15, 1995, in the United States. As a young player, he participated in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program and trained at the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy. These early experiences helped shape his path toward professional baseball.

Smith attended Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California, where he played for the school’s baseball team as a first baseman, outfielder, and pitcher. He led the Cavaliers to the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section division championship in 2013. After high school, he committed to attend the University of Southern California (USC).

Path to Baseball

Smith was widely regarded as one of the top amateur prospects in the country after his strong high school career, including a championship-winning senior season. Rather than attend USC, he chose to enter professional baseball after being drafted.

The New York Mets selected him in the first round, with the 11th overall selection, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Mets for a $2.6 million signing bonus, beginning his climb through the minor leagues.

Dominic Smith Career

Early Career (2013-2016)

After signing with the Mets, Smith was assigned to the Gulf Coast Mets of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he batted .287 with three home runs and 22 runs batted in (RBIs) in 48 games. He was then promoted to the Kingsport Mets, where he recorded four doubles in six at-bats. At season’s end, Baseball America named him the 4th best prospect in the Gulf Coast League for 2013.

He spent the 2014 season with the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Single-A South Atlantic League, but struggled with just one home run and 44 RBIs in 461 at-bats. In 2015, Smith turned things around with the St. Lucie Mets of the High-A Florida State League, finishing with a .305/.354/.417 slashline, a career-high six home runs, 79 RBIs, and 33 doubles. He was named Florida State League Player of the Year. In 2016, he played for the Binghamton Mets of the Double-A Eastern League, batting .302 with 14 home runs and 91 RBIs, and appeared in the All-Star Futures Game.

New York Mets (2017-2022)

Smith made his MLB debut on August 11, 2017, against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, recording a single for his first hit off Nick Pivetta. He hit his first home run off Sonny Gray on August 15 and ended the season batting .198 with nine home runs in 167 at-bats for the Mets.

After competing for playing time in 2018, Smith had a breakout 2019 season, splitting time between first base and left field. On September 29, 2019, he hit a three-run walk-off home run off Grant Dayton in the bottom of the 11th inning to lead the Mets to a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves. In the shortened 2020 season, he batted .316/.377/.616 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in 50 games, setting a Mets franchise slugging percentage record and finishing 13th in National League MVP voting. After a disappointing 2021 season, he struggled again in 2022, batting .194/.276/.284 with zero home runs, and was demoted to Triple-A Syracuse. On November 18, 2022, the Mets declined to offer him a contract, making him a free agent.

Washington Nationals (2023)

On January 4, 2023, Smith signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Washington Nationals. In a career-high 153 games for Washington, he batted .254/.326/.366 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs. On November 14, he was designated for assignment after multiple prospects were added to the 40-man roster, and he became a free agent on November 17.

2024 Season

Smith signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs in February 2024 but was released on March 22 after triggering the opt-out clause. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on March 30, batting .263/.337/.375 in 21 games for the Triple-A Durham Bulls before being released on May 1.

On May 1, 2024, Smith signed a one-year major league contract with the Boston Red Sox, batting .237/.317/.390 with six home runs and 34 RBIs in 83 games before being designated for assignment on August 16. On August 22, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds, where he went 5-for-26 in nine games before being designated for assignment again on September 2. He rejected an outright assignment and became a free agent on September 5.

San Francisco Giants (2025)

On June 4, 2025, Smith signed a one-year, major league contract with the San Francisco Giants. In 63 appearances for San Francisco, he batted .284/.333/.417 with five home runs, 33 RBIs, and two stolen bases, providing steady production as a corner bat.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of Smith’s signature moments came on September 29, 2019, when he hit a three-run walk-off home run off Grant Dayton to give the Mets a 7-6 win over the Atlanta Braves in the final game of the regular season. His .616 slugging percentage in 2020 set a Mets franchise record, even in a shortened season. He also finished 13th in National League MVP voting that year.

Dominic Smith Career Wins

Dominic Smith’s career has featured several highlight offensive seasons across multiple organizations, even though he has not posted a full-season batting title. His strongest years came in 2019 and 2020 with the New York Mets, when he was a central part of the team’s lineup and earned national recognition for his production.

Mets Highlights

During his Mets tenure, Smith batted over .300 in 2016 in the minors and posted a .316 batting average during the 2020 shortened MLB season. His 10 home runs and 42 RBIs in only 177 at-bats that year ranked among the most productive rates in the National League. He also set a franchise record with a .616 slugging percentage in 2020.

Dominic Smith Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Smith’s parents, Clay Smith and Yvette LaFleur, have seven children total. They lived separately while raising Dominic. His mother worked in child care, and his father works as a dog trainer and groomer.

Personal Life

Smith grew up a Los Angeles Angels fan. In 2017, he founded a non-profit called Baseball Generations, which supports player development for financially underprivileged players. His mother, Yvette LaFleur, passed away from cancer on March 15, 2026.

2025 Season Performance

Smith’s 2025 season began with a minor league contract signed with the New York Yankees on January 13. After opting out and re-signing on March 30, he played 45 games for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, batting .255/.333/.448 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. He became a free agent on June 1 after triggering his opt-out clause.

His 2025 campaign reflected a continued effort to find a stable role, bouncing between organizations but delivering consistent contact and on-base skills when given opportunities. Heading into the next year, Smith remained a free agent looking for a new team where he could earn everyday at-bats.