Padres Perfectly Troll Will Smith, Dodgers After Jurickson Profar's Clutch Hit

Karl Rasmussen | Apr 15, 2024

San Diego Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar celebrates after hitting a three-run double vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

We're only a little over two weeks into the 2024 MLB season, but the rivalry between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers is already in midseason form.

After Dodgers catcher Will Smith claimed that Jurickson Profar was "irrelevant" and didn't warrant a Los Angeles pitcher to intentionally hit him, the Padres outfielder responded in the best way possible: on the field.

Profar delivered the at-bat of the night as he ripped a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning, which broke a 3–3 deadlock in order to give San Diego a 6–3 lead, a scoreline they'd manage to maintain en route to a victory and a series win.

After Profar's clutch piece of hitting, the Padres had some fun at the expense of Smith and the Dodgers, celebrating the at-bat on social media by calling it a "pretty relevant swing."

That's a pretty relevant swing. pic.twitter.com/DzgX9DlT7f

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 15, 2024

The Padres managed to take two of three games in their first series of the season against their rivals from Los Angeles, and they didn't pull any punches while celebrating Sunday's win.

The latest bad blood between the two teams stems from Saturday's game, during which Profar was nearly hit by a pitch from Gavin Stone, who was working a no-hit bid at the time. Profar had words for the pitcher, prompting benches to clear. After the game, Smith denied that the Dodgers had intentionally thrown at Profar, suggesting he wasn't relevant enough.

It was Profar and the Padres who got the last laugh this time around, though the rival sides will see plenty more of one another throughout the season, with their next matchup slated for May 10 at Petco Park.