Hometown Hero Returns: Louisville Celebrates Will Smith with New Tribute Banner
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher and former Louisville Cardinals legend Will Smith was back in Louisville Tuesday morning for a dedication of a “Hometown Hero” banner. Portrayed on the side of the Grocer Ice Lofts 609 E. Main Street, Smith becomes the latest of 30+ Louisvillians to have his image bear the side of a building in The Ville.
Smith, the current catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, made the trek down I-71 for the dedication this morning as they are playing the Cincinnati Reds in a midweek series. Smith has missed two and a half months of the 2026 regular season with a neck injury but is rounding back into form just in time for the playoffs.
The slugger from The Ville hit the game-winning home run in the top of the 11th inning during Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. Smith caught all 73 innings of the Fall Classic, which is a record. It was his third World Series championship with the Dodgers to go along with 2020 and 2024.
Smith was born March 28, 1995, in the Derby City. He was a star in high school at Kentucky Country Day (KCD), hitting .528 with 11 home runs during his senior year. He also pitched that season, compiling a 7-1 record with a 0.87 ERA.
