Team USA has advanced to the knockout round of the World Baseball Classic, and amid this run, one Dodgers trainer has taken a central role.
Travis Smith, the Dodgers’ head major league strength coach, has been making waves for pumping up Team USA, as shown in a video recently shared to Reddit after being posted by baseball reporter Ellie Williamson.
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This week, Smith has gone viral again, this time for a workout he’s doing with New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge.
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In the video, Smith seeks to hold back the 6-foot-7, 282-pound Judge as he churns his way across the outfield.
As Judge begins to skip and then run, the shorter Smith has to pull hard and move his feet quickly.
It seems like he provided enough resistance, though, as Smith and Judge slap five at the conclusion of the exercise.
Apr 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) is with Travis Smith – Strength and Conditioning Coach in the dugout prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesWhat Does Travis Smith Do for the Dodgers?
Smith regularly works with the Dodgers players, 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, and he’s been shouted out by Dodgers for years, including Matt Beaty in 2019.
If his work with Team USA is any indication, Smith also is a key contributor to the clubhouse culture, something Dodgers fans have noticed with anticipation that it could help the team in future years.
How Could Travis Smith Help the Dodgers Further?
As fans noted on Reddit, Smith is up close and personal with many of baseball’s stars during the WBC.
Getting to work with some of the best American players during this tournament likely provided further incentive for free agents who may be looking to play for the Dodgers.
“Let everyone in that dugout understand that the Dodgers culture is not exclusive to the players,” said u/Knightly11.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.