It is common knowledge that nearly every Major League Baseball team carries two catchers on their active and 40-man rosters. As such, when the Dodgers released soon-to-be (on December 28) 36-year-old back-up catcher Austin Barnes on May 20th, they called up 24-year-old backstop Dalton Rushing from the Oklahoma City Comets as his replacement.
Like many catchers these days, Rushing, who slashed .204/.258/.324/.582 with four home runs, 24 RBIs, and threw out eight of 25 would-be base stealers (32%) in his 53 games he appeared in with the Big club, he is also listed as first baseman and designated hitter, with eight and one appearances at those roster positions respectively during the Dodgers 2025 regular season.
As every baseball fan knows, catchers – at any level of the game – are among the most-injured players of the nine defensive positions, and understandably so. As such, is carrying two rostered catchers enough for MLB teams these days? The short answer is: “Of course,” but perhaps the more accurate answer is: “Maybe not.”
While it is understandable that MLB teams do not like having more than two catchers sitting on the dugout bench at any time, catchers are but one foul tip away from landing on the IL, in some cases for an extended period of time.
worst possible spot on May 11, 2025 and had to come out of the game. Fortunately, Torrens
did not miss any playing time as a result. (MLB.com)
On Wednesday, The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported that the Dodgers had finalized their first offseason signing of 26-year-old minor league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Jr.
The Barcelona, Venezuela native spent the entire 2025 season in the Detroit Tigers minor league system and began the season with their Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He was sent back down to Double-A Erie in mid-April, where he spent the rest of the season. In his 57 games with the Double-A Moon Mammoths, Alfonzo hit .251/.308/.333, with one home run, 13 doubles, and 31 RBI.s. He was initially signed as an international free agent by the Detroit Tigers in July 2016 and is currently playing for Navegantes del Magallanes of the Venezuelan Winter League. Although 2025 was his first season at the Triple-A level, he has yet to make his MLB debut – but very well could in a Dodgers uniform in 2026.
he has yet to make his MLB debut. (Kirthmon F. Dozier – Detroit Free Press)
Stay tuned…
Play Ball!
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