# Will Smith gets hometown hero banner in Louisville

> The Dodgers catcher and Louisville legend returned home for a tribute honoring his journey from Kentucky Country Day to three World Series rings.
- Title: Will Smith gets hometown hero banner in Louisville | Shortify
- Summary: The Dodgers catcher and Louisville legend returned home for a tribute honoring his journey from Kentucky Country Day to three World Series rings. Will Smith…
- Keywords: will smith, louisville cardinals, los angeles dodgers, hometown hero banner, louisville, kentucky country day, world series, dan mcdonnell, grocer ice lofts, catching hope foundation, sports, Smith
- Source: Louisville Cardinals On SI — https://si.com/college/louisville/hometown-hero-returns-louisville-celebrates-will-smith-with-new-tribute-banner-01m2k8s604rw
- Published: 2026-09-15T22:01:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: will smith, louisville cardinals, los angeles dodgers, hometown hero banner, louisville, kentucky country day, world series, dan mcdonnell, grocer ice lofts, catching hope foundation, sports
## Banner honors Louisville's Will Smith
The Dodgers catcher got a Hometown Hero banner on the Grocer Ice Lofts at 609 E. Main Street. He joins 30+ Louisvillians honored with building-side portraits.
## Perfect timing for the ceremony
Smith drove down I-71 from Cincinnati, where the Dodgers are playing the Reds. He's returning from a neck injury that sidelined him for two and a half months.
## Game 7 hero with a record
Smith hit the game-winning homer in the 11th inning of the 2025 World Series Game 7. He caught all 73 innings of the Fall Classic, a record.
## Three rings and counting
The 2025 championship was Smith's third with the Dodgers, adding to titles in 2020 and 2024.
## High school phenom at KCD
Smith hit .528 with 11 homers his senior year at Kentucky Country Day. He also pitched, going 7-1 with a 0.87 ERA.
## Stayed home for college ball
Smith played three seasons at Louisville from 2014 to 2016. As a freshman, he helped the Cardinals reach the College World Series in Omaha.
## Junior year breakout season
In 2016, Smith hit .382 with seven homers and 43 RBI. He earned All-ACC Third Team honors and helped Louisville secure the No. 2 overall seed.
## Dodgers drafted him 32nd overall
Los Angeles selected Smith in 2016 and he's spent his entire pro career in their organization. He debuted in 2019 and made three straight All-Star teams from 2023 to 2025.
## Giving back to both cities
Smith and his wife Cara have two daughters and run the Catching Hope Foundation. It helps underprivileged children in Los Angeles and Louisville.
## Key takeaway

Will Smith, who hit the game-winning homer in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, is now immortalized on a downtown Louisville building alongside 30+ other hometown heroes.