Dominic Smith's walk-off grand slam for Braves makes new MLB history

Atlanta Braves newcomer Dominic Smith hit a dramatic game-winning grand slam in his team debut.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:56pm

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In a thrilling finish, Atlanta Braves free agent signee Dominic Smith hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Saturday. Smith's heroics made him the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a new team.

Why it matters

The Braves are dealing with a rash of early-season injuries to their starting pitching staff, so Smith's dramatic debut provides a much-needed boost to the team's offense as they look to stay competitive in the tough NL East division.

The details

Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 9th, the Braves rallied to load the bases before Smith stepped up and crushed a game-winning grand slam to give Atlanta the 6-2 victory. The historic nature of Smith's feat comes from it being his first game with the Braves after signing a minor league contract with the team earlier this offseason.

  • The game took place on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • Smith hit the walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The players

Dominic Smith

A free agent signee who made MLB history with his walk-off grand slam in his Braves debut.

Spencer Strider

A Braves starting pitcher who was recently placed on the injured list with an oblique injury, one of multiple injuries impacting Atlanta's pitching staff to start the season.

Spencer Schwellenbach

Another Braves starting pitcher who is sidelined to begin the 2026 season due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“'Dominic Smith is the first player in MLB history with a walk-off grand slam in his debut with a team!'”

— Sarah Langs, MLB Reporter

What’s next

The Braves will look to build on Smith's heroics as they continue their series against the Royals on Sunday before hosting the Athletics on Monday.

The takeaway

Smith's dramatic debut provides a much-needed boost for the injury-plagued Braves, who will need their offense to step up early in the season as they navigate a rash of pitching injuries.