We all remember May 26, 2024—the day Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. went down with a massive leg injury. The atmosphere, once beaming with the hope of winning, soon turned into a disaster. What followed was him being sidelined. But it was not a momentary halt; rather, the Braves missed Acuña Jr. in their lineup for the entire year. Now that he has resumed his play on May 23, he delivered. But it wasn’t enough for the Braves to bounce back. And now, the Braves appear to be left with no other option than to call up Acuna’s fierce rival. Any guesses?

Of course, it is Don Smith, the veteran first baseman, who happens to be in the market. Acquiring Acuña Jr.’s former rival will provide the much-needed depth to the Braves’ outfield. But that’s not the real reason why the Braves shall pursue him. Smith is someone who can project Acuna Jr., since he’s returning fresh off an injury and has all the franchise’s hope tied to him. 

It isn’t like Braves’ offensive numbers are not decent, but they are not decent enough for October Glory. And given Smith’s slashline of .317/.389/.622, along with seven home runs, this could be a season-altering decision for the team. But the story isn’t as simple as Braves’ fans would hope. Speculations have already been mounting about Smith returning to the New York Mets. Perhaps, this is the chance for the Braves to have a great opportunity to sneak in and bolster their outfield.

Although when you look at Acuña Jr.’s performance, ever since he returned, things have been pretty amazing. In the comeback game on May 23, Acuña Jr. managed to hit a homer off the San Diego Padres’ Nick Pivetta and finished with two hits. It seems like the nickname “La Bestia” perfectly suits him. A four-time All-Star with 168 career home runs at age 27. What more can anyone expect?

However, despite Acuña Jr.’s heroics, the Braves are falling into the abyss. Their offensive woes are well reflected in their record of an average of 3.75 runs every game since April 30. Well, that means they are managing only one run or even fewer per game. That’s why they need Smith, who could at least serve as a backup for the Brian Snitker-led team until Acuña Jr. gains full recovery. More importantly, if Acuña Jr. needs a day of rest, Smith can also be valuable.

Is Ronald Acuna Jr.’s former rival no longer with the Mets? 

Ever since Smith’s name began swirling in the trade market, he’s been the hot topic at the moment. And fans are eagerly wanting to hear what made him leave the Mets. The first baseman has finally used the opt-out clause after playing for two months with the Triple-A Scranton, as stated by Jeff Passan of ESPN.

The Yankees signed him for a minor-league deal with the main purpose of filling the gap in their roster. The reason was Giancarlo Stanton’s sudden injury, which sidelined him, prompting the need to add a player as a designated hitter for the Yankees. He even managed to hit quite well, with a .297 average, and even posted three home runs with 12 RBIs. But unfortunately, he was released until getting signed again by the Yankees to Triple-A.

It’s been a rollercoaster ride for him, but he was hoping to make it big in the major league. That’s why he even posted seven home runs and 22 RBIs at a .317 average in May. However, he had no luck! It felt like he was hanging here and there and not getting enough chances after playing his last major league game in 2024.

Now that he has opted out of the minor league and has relevant experience as a left fielder and designated hitter and also playing at first base, Dom Smith’s absence from the major league remains a big question for many. However, it is a good opportunity for the Braves to make a move and get him to strengthen their offense and also fill the gap in their roster.

Do you think Dom Smith will be a good bet for the Atlanta Braves?