DENVER -- When Will Smith hit a broken-bat single to center field to open the third inning of the Dodgers’ 7-1 win over the Rockies at Coors Field on Friday night, the bat “died a hero,” as they say.
But it almost took out Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in the process -- the barrel flew right into the visitors’ dugout. Thankfully, Roberts and everyone around him were able to dodge it.
“Scary,” Roberts said. “That was like slow-motion. That was close.”
Roberts has been managing in the big leagues for a long time, with the 2026 campaign being his 12th season at the helm for the Dodgers in what has been a very successful run that has included postseason appearances every year and three World Series titles.
But this was a first.
“It almost got me,” Roberts said of the shard of wood speeding towards him. “It was between me and [bench coach Danny Lehmann]. So that was a slow-motion situation. I didn’t know which way to go, but fortunately I didn’t get hit.
“That could’ve been ugly.”
When asked whether he had ever had a broken bat fly that close to him, Roberts said that in all the previous instances of broken bats in his vicinity, he had a plan of action.
Not so this time. Not the way this projectile was hurtling his way.
“Usually, I’m pretty in-tune and have an exit strategy,” Roberts said. “But I didn’t have one tonight.”
Thankfully, he didn’t need one, and everyone is OK.