ATLANTA — One day after fans gave a stirring ovation to Marcell Ozuna in his return to Truist Park for the first time since joining the Pittsburgh Pirates after playing the past six seasons for the Atlanta Braves, Dominic Smith provided a reminder the home team still has veteran playing a lead role at designated hitter.
Before his first at-bat in Pittsburgh’s 6-3 loss to the Braves on Friday night, the 35-year-old Ozuna tipped his batting helmet to the crowd and put his hand over his heart in his response to the loud ovation.
Smith showed in the Braves’ 6-3 win Saturday that Atlanta continues to enjoy strong production at the role Ozuna held down for much of this decade, lining an opposite-field two-run homer to highlight Atlanta’s three-run fifth inning.
Smith, 30, also had a single and walked once in his four plate appearances Saturday. He is hitting .309 with six home runs and 28 RBIs this season after signing a minor league contract with Atlanta in February and later receiving a split major league contract, and he already has his most homers in a season since hitting six in 2024, when he spent time with both the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds.
The left-handed hitter initially thought his liner in the fifth might fall for a single or even fade foul. Instead, the shot stayed fair and found the seats beyond left field.