Dodgers’ Will Smith reveals Shohei Ohtani motivation for first ever leadoff home run

With the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to continue rolling in the 2026 season, the team scored a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants that was helped by catcher Will Smith. As the Dodgers beat the Giants, the scoring started immediately with Smith channeling his inner Shohei Ohtani in a specific way.It started at the bottom of the first inning, where Smith was the lead-off hitter as Ohtani didn't play, and in his absence, hit a home run on a 1-2 sinker that was high and middle to right-center field. When asked about the home run after the game, Smith would even say that he was “just trying to be like” Ohtani.“Good, felt good. Just trying to be like Sho, leading off with a homer, but yeah, just another AB,” Smith said, via SportsNet LA. "Just trying to be like Sho. Leading off with a homer. Yeah, just another AB." Will Smith (1-3, HR (4), RBI, BB) talks with @THEREAL_DV after the #Dodgers 5-2 win over the Giants in the series finale. pic.twitter.com/7g4unf7yQr — SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) May 15, 2026 Designated hitter, Will Smith! pic.twitter.com/Q1NkMh0Ahg — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 15, 2026Dodgers' Will Smith on being the leadoff hitter Smith was the designated hitter for the Dodgers on Thursday night, with Dalton Rushing handling catching duties against the Giants. While being a leadoff hitter is not the norm for Smith, he wouldn't say it was a huge adjustment to see pitches that other players haven't seen before on that day.“It didn't honestly, you know, it was just another, you know, leading off the inning basically, just leading off the game, you know, we know what pitches he got, we know it works for him, what he's trying to do out there, so yeah, just putting together a good at bat, picking the right pitches to swings at and putting the bat on the ball,” Smith said.The Los Angeles star would shout out the pitching performance of Emmet Sheehan, who threw six innings and struck out six batters, while allowing two earned runs.“He pitched so well tonight, but yeah, just jumped out ahead, not feel like we're clawing back, they did a good job tying it up, but we were able to respond right away and get the win,” Smith continued.The Dodgers and Smith look to continue the winning ways as the team starts a series against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.With the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to continue rolling in the 2026 season, the team scored a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants that was helped by catcher Will Smith. As the Dodgers beat the Giants, the scoring started immediately with Smith channeling his inner Shohei Ohtani in a specific way.