Dodgers' Smith calls out Braves' Ozuna for hitting catchers with backswing

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith has noticed that Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna has a tendency to hit backstops with his backswings.

Smith wasn't pleased when Ozuna accidentally hit him in the head on the follow-through of a swing during an at-bat in the fourth inning of Monday's game.

"I was just mad," Smith said postgame, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. "He hit me in the head with his bat pretty hard. It's not the first time he's done it to me. He's done it to other catchers around the league. I just felt like there comes a point where I need to say something there.

"In the moment, it kind of got a little heated. It's something that he's not doing on purpose. But you do it enough times, you'd think he'd fix it."

Ozuna said Tuesday that he wasn't intending to hit Smith with his backswing, according to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He added that Smith told him to "clean it up," while Ozuna suggested Smith back up when he's batting.

Smith added that part of the reason why he was upset with Ozuna is because the star catcher missed 13 games in April with a concussion.

"I just came off a concussion three, four weeks ago, whatever it was," Smith said. "So, yeah. The catcher is the one back there. He's the one getting hit. It's my job, and I'm the one wearing it. Hopefully, I wake up tomorrow feeling good. Should feel good."

The Braves and Dodgers play again Tuesday and Wednesday.