Shohei Ohtani faces catcher shortage as Will Smith sidelined and former teammate Anthony Banda placed on IL

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, out with a neck injury, is expected to miss at least six weeks and may not return until after the All‑Star break. Manager Dave Roberts said the team hopes for a pre‑break comeback, but prolonged rehab could push his return further. The Dodgers' backup catcher Dalton Rushing will likely continue catching for Ohtani, whose performance has dipped when not paired with Smith.

Former Dodger left‑hander Anthony Banda, now with the Minnesota Twins, was placed on the 15‑day injured list with a back strain. The injury is expected to keep him out for months, ending a brief reunion with former teammate Shohei Ohtani, who had just embraced him and fellow Dodgers before the Twins‑Dodgers game a week earlier. Banda’s long‑term absence weakens an already thin Twins bullpen and removes another player tied to Ohtani’s recent past.