The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their season-opening series Tuesday with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan. Their star-studded roster is set. However, behind the major-league talent, there is plenty of depth as well. One such example is catching prospect Dalton Rushing. The young backstop is rated as the No. 2 Dodgers prospect behind Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who is scheduled to make his first major-league start in his home country on Wednesday. That leads to the question, when will Rushing get his first taste of action in Dodger Blue?
Dalton Rushing delivers a walk-off two-run double. #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/9fwWjmAyLA
— MLB (@MLB) March 1, 2025
Dodgers May Have Erred Cutting Dalton Rushing from Big League Roster
The Last Cut is the Deepest?
To his credit, Rushing was one of the last cuts on the roster when the Dodgers broke camp after completing their Cactus League exhibition. Los Angeles got an extended look at him and he made the most of it. The left-handed hitting star had a batting average of over .300 with a few clutch hits with men in scoring position. This was better than veteran backup catcher Austin Barnes, who handles the pitching staff extremely well but struggles to hit.
A Crowded Field
The Dodgers locked up All-Star catcher Will Smith for the long term last season with a 10-year contract extension. Still, one might expect that a position change might be in the offing eventually. After all, donning “the tools of ignorance” does take its toll on whoever is behind the plate.
Rushing spent some time in left field and third base at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2024. However, manager Dave Roberts said that the Dodgers see Rushing as a catcher at this point.
Case in Point
Still, injuries do remain a concern. For example, Smith revealed during spring training that he sustained a bone bruise while sliding into second base last season. The injury that occurred in June still hasn’t healed completely. This is probably why Smith’s batting average fell precipitously below .200 in the second half of the year. He insisted that it had to do more with the mechanics of his swing, but we shall see.
Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, Smith was also hit by a pitch on the knee, but appears none the worse for wear.
Making Room or a Mirage?
It looked like Rushing had a chance to make a bid for the 40-man roster this year. The Dodgers did trade former top prospect Diego Cartaya to the Minnesota Twins over the winter. The former top prospect may have needed a fresh start after dealing with defensive struggles and injuries of his own. Hunter Feduccia seems to be the backup choice should Barnes or Smith take a trip to the injured list. In fact, Feduccia spent some time with the big league club when Barnes dealt with a broken toe last year.
Biding His Time
Because of the incredible depth within the Dodgers organization, there is no rush for Dalton to make his debut. However, the Dodgers know better than most teams how long a baseball season can be, and injuries can happen at any time. The best thing the young backstop can do is be patient and be prepared. His time will come one way or another.
Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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