The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling prized top catching prospect Dalton Rushing up to the big leagues, league sources said Wednesday, adding reinforcements to one of the top lineups in the sport.
Rushing was The Athletic’s 16th-ranked prospect in its preseason top 100, and his production with Triple-A Oklahoma City blew down the door to the majors. In 132 plate appearances this season, he hit .308/.424/.514 with five home runs, continuing to flash a dominant offensive profile from the left side of the plate.
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The 24-year-old Rushing was the Dodgers’ first selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, and has produced offensively at every level — so much so that last fall, the team tried him in left field in case he’d be needed during the team’s eventual World Series run. He has continued to progress defensively, with the team having him run mock gameplanning meetings during spring training to complete the final stages of his development behind the plate. Throughout spring training, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed that Rushing was already a major league-caliber player. It was just a matter of when he’d get the call.
“It’s a really high standard that we have (for catchers) and there’s so much that goes into the game planning and then relaying that message to the pitchers in an effective way,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said of Rushing this spring. “So really pouring himself into the defensive side. The offensive is in a really good place. You can always find tweaks there but it’s very much his receiving, his game calling.”
The organization has already established a franchise catcher in giving Will Smith a record 10-year, $140 million deal just ahead of last Opening Day. Smith has gotten off to a torrid start to the season, hitting .330 with a .915 OPS through his first 133 plate appearances this season. Smith is not dealing with an injury that would precipitate Rushing’s call-up, a source said.
Instead, the Dodgers will designate Austin Barnes — their longest-tenured position player — for assignment, league sources said. Barnes was in the final year of his contract with the organization after the club picked up his $3.5 million option for 2025. The 35-year-old was 9-for-42 to start the season while allowing 15 stolen bases in 12 games behind the plate.
Rushing has been behind the plate for half of his action this season in the minors, splitting the rest of his time between first base (nine games), designated hitter (four) and left field (two). That versatility, along with Rushing’s left-handed bat, could open up a path to playing time.
(Photo: Nathan J. Fish / The Oklahoman / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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