Red Sox release 1B Dominic Smith

Field Level Media|published: Tue 20th August, 16:42 2024

Aug 14, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Dominic Smith (2) fields the ball during warmups before a game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox on Tuesday released first baseman Dominic Smith, a former first-round draft pick who became expendable when first baseman Triston Casas was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Friday.

Smith, 29, was designated for assignment on Friday after batting .237 with six home runs, 34 RBIs, a .317 on-base percentage, a .390 slugging percentage and a .706 OPS in 83 games.

The left-hander also filled in as a pitcher and did not allow a run with two hits and one walk in three innings over three games.

Boston had signed Smith on May 1 after he opted out of a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, who had released him one day earlier.

Casas had not played since April 20 after tearing rib cartilage before returning to action Friday.

The New York Mets selected Smith with the 11th overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft. Smith played for New York from 2017-22, and he finished 13th in the National League MVP voting in 2020 when he posted career bests by slashing .316/.377/.616.

In 683 career games for the Mets, Washington Nationals (2023) and Red Sox, Smith batted .247 with 64 homers and 259 RBIs.

--Field Level Media