Atlanta Braves player Dominic Smith delivered in his first-ever game for the Major League Baseball team. He propelled his team to an exhilarating win over the Kansas City Royals mere days after experiencing heartbreak.
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Smith's mother, Yvette LaFleur, passed away on March 15 after a battle with cancer. He kept this news private until he spoke with reporters about his walk-off grand slam against Royals closer Carlos Estévez.
It was then that Smith revealed that he felt his mother's presence as he smashed the ball over the right side fence to give the Braves a 6-2 win.
DOMINIC SMITH WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IQlw0pp5SN
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2026
"I definitely did," Smith said, per MLB. "I got choked up a bunch of times and I'm trying to hold back tears right now. It's just so special. I feel her every day. I miss her dearly. There's not a moment where I don't think about her."
As Smith explained, his Braves teammates knew about his mother's battle with cancer. He had to leave camp for over a week after his mother had what he called "a scare." Smith said that his teammates just showed him love as he dealt with this family emergency.
"They preach a family environment here," Smith said. "That's what I feel from the group and the coaching staff. I'm just so thankful for the opportunity to suit up for the Braves."
Early in the year, it appeared that the former Met and National would not have a spot on the Braves. After all, the team had designated hitter Jurickson Profar on the roster.
Yet, the situation completely changed in early March. Profar received a 162-game suspension after testing positive a performance-enhancing drug. This marked his second suspension for this offense, so he became ineligible to play during the regular season, postseason, and World Baseball Classic.
Smith, who had signed a Minor League deal on Feb. 17, suddenly had an opportunity to compete for a spot on the roster. He went out and did enough to get a spot, and then he delivered for the Braves in the biggest moment.
