How ‘silent assassin’ Will Smith turned into Dodgers World Series hero

A block from the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday morning, once forgotten Dodgers the star found newfound fame.

Four days after winning home run in Game 7 of the World Series, Will Smith serenaded hundreds of fans at a Raising Cane's promotional event at the intersection of Sunset and Highland streets, taking the makeshift stage to chants of “We want Will!” from the throng of Dodgers faithful forever indebted to his championship victory.

“It's just amazing to feel the love from all the fans,” Smith said. “It’s great to celebrate with these people and see what the Dodgers mean to them.”

For many years Smith in many ways felt that love was out of the shadows of the Dodgers' all-star lineup, a three-time All-Star, a generational talent at his position, but also an overshadowing member of the team's famed core.

That officially changed this week after he hit the game-winning extra-inning home run in Game 7 of the Fall Classic.

His name has now passed into the realm of October legends. His place in Dodger history has been elevated to near-immortal status.

“It's crazy,” Smith said when told Wednesday of the story he committed in the 11th inning. “I would never have thought that [would happen]. But yeah, I'm just glad I was able to do this for the guys and for the city… The passion that these fans have is what motivates me the most.”

This answer, of course, illustrates Smith's default mode. Quiet and reserved by nature. Not inclined to public attention. Happy to just show up at the ballpark, do his tedious job as the starting catcher for the best team in baseball, and avoid the attention that a player of his talent usually attracts.

That was the reality of Smith's existence with these Dodgers. Shared accommodation in a club with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman And Clayton Kershawhe found it easy to blend into the background for most of his seven-year career.

But then last Saturday night, Shane Bieber hit him with a slider in a tie with World Series on the line. Smith swung wildly, begging the ball to go over the fence. And as soon as this happened, his position in the sport instantly changed. Dodgers consolidated the dynasty. He was the face of one of the most defining moments.

“Yes and no,” Smith said when asked if his life had changed this week. “This is a moment that will always be special. A very positive memory. In the first couple [World Series]had some big hits and everything. But the winner of the game is cool. So, hopefully next year, when we get together for the threesome, we’ll do something similar.”

Nothing, of course, will be as transformative as the past week for the 30-year-old defender.

If not for heroic efforts Yoshinobu YamamotoSmith could very easily win the World Series MVP, leading the Dodgers with six RBIs, second only to Ohtani's .267 batting average, and catching all 74 marathon innings in another Fall Classic record.

He wasn't persuaded to perform in the team's championship parade, but he still received one of the loudest ovations of the day, with fans recognizing the titanic contributions he made both at and behind the plate.

“He was a silent killer,” Freeman said.

“He’s a real animal,” echoed third baseman Max Muncy.

Smith did show off some of his dry humor during an appearance on Tuesday night's “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, sharing a laugh with his manager. Dave Roberts and several other teammates.

Then, on Wednesday morning, he was given a hero's welcome at Raising Cane's event, where fans lined up along Sunset two hours before his appearance with signs and banners at the ready.

“It was like a dream,” Smith said.

One from which he will not wake up soon.

Moving forward, Smith looks to be at the center of the team's future success by signing Contract extension for 10 years and $140 million. with the Dodgers in March 2024.

“It’s almost like home for us now,” said the Louisville native and father of two. “We like it here.”

As one of the youngest members of the club's All-Star core, his value on the roster will also continue to rise as Smith tries to build off a 2025 campaign in which he set season-high career averages (.296) and OPS (.901) despite missing most of September and the first week of the playoffs with a broken hand.

“To me, he epitomizes a lot of the success that we've had, looking back, in terms of our search process, our player development process, how well they work together, and then him having the success and making the impact that he's had at the Major League level,” president of baseball operations. Andrew Friedman said of Smith, who was the team's original first-round draft pick in 2016.

“Make no mistake, he will have many moments like this,” Muncy added. “He's going to be here for a long time. I'm interested to see what he's going to do for this organization.”

And to think how catastrophically different this week could have been if it weren't for another key play Smith made in Game 7: He put his toe back on his plate after it had come loose when he went to catch a throw from Miguel Rojas with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning.

“I still don’t like seeing it,” Smith joked as video of the moment played on Kimmel. “They replayed it [in the stadium]and I thought, “Oh, damn, this is not good.” We're going to lose right here because I can't hold home plate with my foot.”

“That,” Smith added as Kimmel contemplated an alternate reality, “would sting.”

Instead, two innings later, Smith hit a hit that would forever change his legacy, placing him on a pedestal that was long overdue and long justified.

“For me, I’ve always tried not to do too much,” he said. “Just accidentally threw him in the air, threw him over the wall.”

Another modest response from a player who is unlikely to go unnoticed again.