Shaikin: The Dodger hosting a comedy show? Stoic Will Smith. No joke

Who is the funniest subordinate connected the Dodgers?

The clubhouse consensus: Kiké Hernández. Also getting votes: Miguel Rojas.

“You cognize what the comic happening is?” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Funny, ha. Go on.

“Dalton [Rushing] is 1 of the funnier guys,” Roberts said, “but not trying to beryllium funny.”

Youthful exuberance connected a seasoned squad is not specified a atrocious thing. Keeps everyone loose.

That leads to a related question: If you had to prime 1 subordinate to big a drama show, who would it be?

“Kiké would beryllium the 1 I would choose,” Freddie Freeman said. “Will Smith is the implicit other of who I would think, but it benignant of fits perfectly.”

On May 7, Smith hosts his 3rd yearly Dodgers Comedy Night, portion of the Netflix is simply a Joke drama festival. It’s a fundraiser for the Catching Hope foundation, launched by Smith and his woman to equip at-risk younker with skills successful enactment and self-sufficiency.

Dodgers catcher Will Smith has hosted events astatine Netflix Is a Joke Fest successful caller years. He’ll beryllium hosting different 1 connected May 7.

(Carrie Giordano / Los Angeles Dodgers)

It’s besides a nighttime that forces Smith, the Dodgers’ stoic All-Star catcher, to instrumentality the stage, convey everyone for coming, and grin and laughter earlier the nonrecreational comedians instrumentality the stage.

“I was decidedly a small anxious due to the fact that you person to get up determination and springiness a small speech, which I bask now,” helium said. “It benignant of took maine backmost to my precocious schoolhouse days, wherever you person to springiness a code successful beforehand of the full school.

“It was a small worrisome, but it was fine. It was amusive erstwhile I got up there.”

Said Rojas: “The archetypal time, it was conscionable a welcome. Last year, helium told a mates jokes.”

Smith insists helium writes his ain jokes.

“I’m not saying excessively galore jokes,” helium said. “Maybe one.”

The Smith we each spot is the 1 Buster Posey — the soon-to-be Hall of Famer and present the San Francisco Giants’ president of shot operations — described to maine past year: “He wasn’t looking to beryllium your champion person erstwhile you came to the plate. I benignant of appreciated that astir him. He was ever precise business.”

The Dodgers’ societal media squad nudged Smith retired of that nationalist ammunition a spot this spring, successful a spot promoting his bobblehead night, successful which Smith nailed a deadpan transportation and a scope of facial gestures.

Roberts said helium had noticed that successful the 2 erstwhile drama shows Smith has hosted.

“Jon Lovitz is simply a comedian, and helium has that adust humor, truthful determination you go,” Roberts said. “Will has that adust humor.”

When I asked Smith which players mightiness beryllium the funniest connected the team, helium besides went with Hernández and Rojas.

“I’m not 1 of the jokesters,” Smith said. “With my closest friends distant from baseball, yeah, we gag around. I similar to support it light, and precise sarcastic.

“The comic guys are the louder ones, usually Miggy and Kiké. Everyone is comic successful their ain way.”

Rojas said helium sees Smith little successful presumption of the yearly gag oregon 2 connected signifier and much successful presumption of the crippled nighttime helium and his woman precocious hosted for teammates and their families.

“I’m a small much vocal,” Rojas said. “If helium has to accidental something, helium volition accidental it, but successful a antithetic way.

“He is simply a large person that cares. He’s not the outgoing guy, but he’s ever alert of, ‘OK, this is what I privation to bash to link with my guys.’”

Freeman has seen Smith connected stage. The drama amusement casting works, somehow.

“It’s not his personality,” Freeman said, “which I deliberation makes it that overmuch better.”

Freeman suspected I mightiness beryllium skeptical.

“It’s fun,” helium said. “You should go.”

For much details connected Dodgers Comedy Night, including summons information, click here.