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Dodgers catcher Will Smith gets a Hometown Heroes banner in Louisville
Louisville, KentuckyPublished 18 Sep 2026
The Louisville native’s banner was unveiled Tuesday on Grocers Ice Lofts in NuLu, next to Louisville Slugger Field.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher and Louisville native Will Smith was honored Tuesday, Sept. 15, with a Hometown Heroes banner on Grocers Ice Lofts at 609 E. Main Street, next to Louisville Slugger Field. Smith played at the University of Louisville before the Dodgers took him 32nd overall in 2016. He is a three-time All-Star with three World Series titles, including an 11th-inning home run in Game 7 of the 2025 series. He and his wife Cara run the Catching Hope Foundation for children in Los Angeles and Louisville.
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Dodgers catcher Will Smith gets Hometown Heroes banner in Louisville
Published 15 Sep 2026 accessed 17 Sep 2026
Facts
Smith’s banner is titled “Will’s Louisville.”
Grocers Ice Lofts is next to Louisville Slugger Field.
Smith said he hopes the banner inspires other kids.
Smith’s family, friends, teammates and coaches attended the unveiling.
The banner shows Smith in his Dodgers uniform rounding the bases after a home run.
Smith said he remembered seeing the Muhammad Ali Hometown Heroes banner.
Smith said he hopes the banner inspires Louisville kids to work hard and achieve their dreams.
Smith said the childhood dream never left and he is still living it.
Smith said the Ali banner inspired him to do great things.
Smith told kids to believe in whatever they want to do.
Smith did not expect to receive a Hometown Heroes banner.
Smith said he definitely did not think he would be in that position.
Hometown Heroes honorees must be from Louisville or nearby, achieve something positive in their field, and give back to the city.
Smith said kids dream of an honor like the banner.
The foundation’s mission is to help underprivileged kids learn leadership and self-advocacy.
Smith said he still feels like an 8-year-old kid at times.
Smith said the foundation has built reading nooks for kids during school.
Catching Hope donated Nike gear and helped fund sports supplies at Louisville’s West End School.
Smith said the foundation has provided sports equipment to schools.
Smith is nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award for community service.
Smith said the foundation likes filling teacher supply lists.
Catching Hope partnered with the Dodgers Foundation and UCLA Health to provide workout clothes to students.
The Clemente nomination is Smith’s second.
Opinion
Smith said the foundation works a lot with schools that do not get enough funding.
Smith said the work is for kids who do not get the resources and opportunities he thinks every child should get.
Louisville honors Dodgers catcher, former UofL standout Will Smith with Hometown Hero banner
Published 15 Sep 2026 accessed 17 Sep 2026
Facts
Smith is 31 and was born and raised in Louisville.
Smith has anchored catcher for Los Angeles ever since.
That win secured back-to-back World Series titles for the Dodgers.
Smith thanked his family and youth coaches for supporting his journey.
Smith joins Hometown Heroes including Muhammad Ali, Jennifer Lawrence, and Alberta Jones.
Opinion
WDRB called the banner one of the city’s highest honors.
WDRB called Smith’s Game 7 homer one of the signature moments of his career.
WDRB said that before the World Series rings, Smith was just a local kid learning the game.
Hometown Hero Returns: Louisville Celebrates Will Smith with New Tribute Banner
Published 15 Sep 2026 accessed 17 Sep 2026
Facts
Smith has missed two and a half months of the 2026 regular season with a neck injury.
Smith caught all 73 innings of the 2025 World Series, a record.
Smith is the latest of more than 30 Louisvillians with an image on a building in Louisville.
Smith drove down I-71 for the dedication while the Dodgers played the Cincinnati Reds in a midweek series.
Smith hit .528 with 11 home runs as a Kentucky Country Day senior.
Smith was born March 28, 1995, in Louisville.
Smith also pitched that high-school season, going 7-1 with a 0.87 ERA.
As a freshman Smith made 39 appearances for a Louisville team that reached Omaha for the program’s third College World Series trip.
As a freshman Smith made 21 starts, played 39 games and hit .221 with 12 RBI and 10 runs.
In 2015 Smith became Dan McDonnell’s primary catcher and hit .242 with two home runs, 15 RBI and eight doubles in 47 starts.
In 2016 Smith hit .382 with seven home runs and 43 RBI in 46 starts and 55 appearances.
Louisville fell short of Omaha in 2015, and Smith went 2-for-5 with a home run in the super regional finale against Cal State Fullerton.
Smith had a two-home-run game against Wake Forest in the ACC tournament.
Smith hit safely in all three NCAA regional games as Louisville earned the No. 2 overall seed.
Smith was named to the 2016 All-ACC Third Team and the 2016 NCAA Louisville Regional All-Tournament Team.
Smith made his MLB debut in 2019.
Smith has spent his entire professional career in the Dodgers organization.
Smith and his wife Cara have two daughters.
Opinion
Sports Illustrated called Smith a former Louisville Cardinals legend.
Sports Illustrated said Smith is rounding back into form just in time for the playoffs.
Sports Illustrated called Smith a star at Kentucky Country Day.
Sports Illustrated said Smith’s college progression jumped massively from his sophomore to junior seasons.