Atlanta Braves first baseman Dominic Smith hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals on March 28, 2026, at Truist Park in Atlanta, securing a 6-2 victory in his debut for the club.[1][2]
The performance marked Smith's first game with the Braves, his sixth MLB team over the past four seasons following stints with the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants.[1][3]
Smith's mother, Yvette LaFleuer, died of cancer earlier in March 2026 after a diagnosis in September 2025 and a health scare during spring training that caused him to miss over a week of camp.[1]
Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded and the score tied, Smith told reporters he felt his mother's presence.[1] "It’s just amazing," Smith said. "Played against the Braves for a long time, and being on the other side a lot of these endings kind of hurt, so to be on the right side of it this time was so fun."[1]
Smith credited his new teammates for their support amid his personal challenges. "This team is just so awesome," he said. "I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day."[1]
The grand slam made Smith the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new team, according to Elias Sports Bureau.[1][4]
Truist Park has been the Braves' home stadium since 2017.[5]
Sources
- Fox News Digital
Article: "Dominic Smith was playing with a heavy heart when he made his Atlanta Braves debut on Saturday night"
March 29, 2026
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/dominic-smith-braves-debut-grand-slam-mother - Associated Press
Article: "The Atlanta Braves celebrate at home plate after a walk-off grand slam from Dominic Smith"
March 28, 2026
https://apnews.com/article/braves-royals-smith-grand-slam-march-28-2026 - MLB.com
Page: "Dominic Smith Stats, Fantasy & News"
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/player/dominic-smith-642708 - Elias Sports Bureau
Page: "MLB Historical Statistics"
Accessed March 2026
https://www.elias.com - MLB.com Braves
Page: "Truist Park Information"
Accessed October 2024
https://www.mlb.com/braves/ballpark
