If you’re not excited for the World Baseball Classic, a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers staff might be what you need to get fired up.
Travis Smith, the Dodgers’ head major league strength coach, has been pumping up Team USA, as shown in a video recently shared to Reddit after being posted by baseball reporter Ellie Williamson.
In the video, Smith hypes up each player individually, shouting out their nicknames and accomplishments in the style of a basketball lineup introduction or the pre-fight prologues of Bruce and Michael Buffer.
Smith even jumps to slap hands with the 6-foot-7 Aaron Judge, whom he dubs “Big Man.”
What Do Dodgers Fans Think About Travis Smith and Team USA?
On the Dodgers subreddit, r/Dodgers, many fans praised Smith for his work and said he’ll be a benefit to Team USA as they work to unseat defending champs Samurai Japan in the WBC.
“Let everyone in that dugout understand that the Dodgers culture is not exclusive to the players,” said u/Knightly11.
“Even coaches are getting it! No wonder dodger dugouts are a vibe,” said u/jazzmaster4000.
“Why did I just watch this 10 times in a row? lol. Dude is a legend,” wrote u/SaintVader44.
Some indicated that Smith’s “aura” could benefit the Dodgers in the long run.
“Oh he’s recruiting with his vibes… lookout MLB lol,” said u/el_hoserino_.
“Everyone looks at Will and Kersh: ‘Damn, no wonder you guys win all the time,’” imagined u/InvisibleMadBadger.
What Does Travis Smith Do for the Dodgers?
Smith is known for working with Dodgers stars, including two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani just after he signed with the Boys in Blue.
Video shared back in 2024 showed Ohtani working on agility drills with Smith, with his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara present as well.
He’s been shouted out by Dodgers for years, including Matt Beaty in 2019.
Though Team USA isn’t together for a large amount of time ahead of the WBC, Smith is clearly making an impact.
Will some of those relationships with America’s baseball superstars lead to future acquisitions for the Dodgers? Only time will tell, but it looks like things are headed in the right direction.
