Dominic Smith Makes MLB History in Braves Debut

Braves newcomer hits walk-off grand slam against Royals

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:57am

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In his first game with the Atlanta Braves, 30-year-old Dominic Smith hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-2. According to the Braves, Smith is the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his team debut.

Why it matters

Dominic Smith's dramatic debut performance not only helped the Braves secure a victory, but it also cemented his place in the MLB record books as the first player to accomplish this feat. This historic moment will be remembered by Braves fans as an exciting start to Smith's tenure with the team.

The details

With the game tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Smith stepped up to the plate and delivered a towering grand slam to give the Braves the win. This was Smith's first game with the Braves after being traded from another team during the offseason.

  • The game took place on Saturday evening, March 29, 2026.

The players

Dominic Smith

A 30-year-old outfielder who made his debut for the Atlanta Braves after being traded to the team during the offseason.

Atlanta Braves

The home team that defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-2 in this game.

Kansas City Royals

The visiting team that lost to the Atlanta Braves in this game.

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The takeaway

Dominic Smith's dramatic debut performance not only helped the Braves secure a victory, but it also cemented his place in the MLB record books as the first player to hit a walk-off grand slam in his team debut. This historic moment will be remembered by Braves fans as an exciting start to Smith's tenure with the team.