Braves' Dominic Smith hits walk-off home run nearly 2 weeks after mother's death

Check out the best highlights between the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves.

Dominic Smith was playing with a heavy heart when he made his Atlanta Braves debut on Saturday night – his sixth team in four years.

Smith’s mother, Yvette LaFleuer, died of cancer earlier this month. When Smith stepped up to the plate against the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, he said he could feel her presence with him.

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The Atlanta Braves celebrate at home plate after a walk-off grand slam from Dominic Smith, center, in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

The slugger hit a walk-off grand slam to win the game for the Braves, 6-2.

"It’s just amazing," he told reporters. "Played against the Braves for a long time, and being on the other side a lot of these endings kind of hurt, so to be on the right side of it this time was so fun."

Smith said that his teammates had been very supporting of him during spring training when his mother was ill. She was diagnosed with cancer in September and nearly died at the start of camp.

He left the team to be with her for over a week when she had a "scare" and when he returned, he was fighting for a roster spot.

Atlanta Braves' Dominic Smith reacts after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta.  (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

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"This team is just so awesome," Smith said. "I’m so blessed because of the love they showed me, the support