The first baseman's mom, Yvette LaFleur, died on March 15
Credit: Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Dominic Smith of the Atlanta Braves made a historic walk-off grand slam during his home game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, March 28
- The home run came just two weeks after his mom died
- “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,” Smith told reporters after the game
Dominic Smith has made history.
The Atlanta Braves first baseman, 30, made a historic walk-off grand slam during the team's home game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, March 28, at Truist Park. The home run, which came just two weeks after his mom died, led his team to a 6-2 win.
Smith told reporters that he felt his mom’s presence during the game, according to the Major League Baseball (MLB) website.
“I definitely did,” he said. “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.”
Credit: Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty
The game marked Smith’s first time playing for the Braves, as well as the first regular-season game he played since his mom’s death, per MLB.
The athlete's mom, Yvette LaFleur, died of cancer on March 15 in California.
Smith said he left the team for about a week when his mom had a "scare," but later returned, per ESPN. He was not with her when she died.
The player became the first in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new team, multiple outlets reported, citing the Elias Sports Bureau.
Smith called his team “just so awesome” while speaking about how they have supported him.
“I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support every day. They’re asking about her, asking about her well-being, my well-being, and that’s all they really cared about. They didn’t care about baseball,” he said, per the Associated Press.
Credit: Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty
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Braves manager Walt Weiss also acknowledged Smith’s impressive feat.
“There’s a lot of emotion attached to that home run for him,” he said, per ESPN.
Smith said he will see his family and “say his goodbyes” during the Braves' upcoming trip to Anaheim, Calif., according to AP.
Smith was born in Los Angeles and attended Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, Calif., per his MLB profile. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 2013.
In February, the Braves signed him to a minor-league contract and invited him to training. Then, on March 21, he was signed to a major-league contract with the team.
Smith previously played for the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, according to ESPN.
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