Roberts: Will Smith (neck) likely back in early July

Smith has finally progressed to the point where he’s ready for live game action after battling a neck issue since the middle of June. It’s not known how many games he’ll need there before he’s ready to rejoin the Dodgers, but it’s possible he could be ready by the end of next week.

Smith is working his way back from a neck issue that put him on the injured list back in mid-June. The 31-year-old backstop is being brought along at a glacial pace to avoid any setbacks, but figures to make it back to Los Angeles at some point in early September.

The Dodgers could certainly use Smith back since they’re rolling with Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia as their catching tandem with Dalton Rushing (elbow) on the injured list. The 31-year-old franchise backstop resumed baseball activities in late July and figures to make it back to Los Angeles by the end of August. He’s going to need a minor league rehab assignment given how much time he’s missed.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Smith is finally asymptomatic after dealing with a lingering neck issue since early June. The 31-year-old is likely to require a couple weeks to ramp up from a physical standpoint following the extended layoff. He remains without a definitive return timetable, but it seems reasonable to anticipate Smith making it back to Los Angeles at some point in August.

It’s merely a procedural move as Smith is still without a return timetable and remains shut down from baseball activities due to an ongoing neck issue. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has reiterated multiple times that they expect their franchise backstop to return this year, but they’ve declined to offer any additional details. The 31-year-olds has been out with neck inflammation since June 11.

The 31-year-old backstop will be shut down completely for the next week before beginning to ramp back up as he continues to deal with a nagging neck injury. Dalton Rushing will continue to see the bulk of the action behind the plate for the foreseeable future.

Same. Roberts lead with saying he expects Smith back this year, but this is not exactly a ringing endorsement that it will be any time soon. Smith has been swinging, but The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya describes his recovery as “stagnant.” Dalton Rushing figures to remain the Dodgers’ main catcher going forward and should be rostered in most leagues at this point.

Smith has been sidelined since June 11 with a neck injury, and while he’s begun swinging, it sounds like the Dodgers are going to handle this situation very carefully. Dalton Rushing should continue to be Los Angeles’ main catcher and be a viable starter in 12-team leagues while Smith is sidelined. The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya believes the Dodgers view this as “an extended development period” for Rushing.

It sounds like he’s making tangible strides in the right direction in his recovery from neck inflammation that has shelved him since early June. The Dodgers sound hopeful that he’ll be able to return shortly after the All-Star break. Dalton Rushing will continue to handle the bulk of the work behind the plate in his absence.

There was optimism that Smith would make it back to Los Angeles at some point in early July, but those odds seemed to get longer in recent weeks while Smith remained shut down from baseball activities. The 31-year-old is working his way back from neck inflammation and the Dodgers have zero incentive to rush him and risk any setbacks. There should be a clearer timeline at some point in the coming weeks. It’ll be former top prospect Dalton Rushing continuing to handle the bulk of the catching duties for the Dodgers.