What To Make of Dalton Rushing

What to make of Dalton Rushing?  More importantly for LAD fans, what do AF/BG make of Dalton Rushing.  I have remained a huge Austin Barnes fan because of what he brought to the pitching part of the game.  He was an outstanding blocker, framer, and pitcher management.  His arm?  Okay, not so much.  His bat?  He was never expected to produce offensively, and the Dodgers received what was expected.  However, what he brought to the pitching game was outstanding, and more than made up for his other deficiencies.

That was until May 14, when Barnes was DFA, and Dalton Rushing was promoted.  That was a bit of a surprise for me as I value the management of the pitcher more than most.  With the DH, the team has 8 bats to make up for a weak bat.

The explanation, and one I have come around to agreeing with, is that Dalton Rushing is a Catcher, not a LF/1B/DH.  He was needed to come up to the MLB team, sit in on pitchers/catchers strategy meetings, work with the MLB pitchers in the bullpen, learn from the MLB players as to how to prepare…It was believed he needed to make this development step at the MLB level, and the Dodgers would be patient with the rest of his game.  Dalton already received accolades from no less than Clayton Kershaw on his receiving skills and game calling while Kersh was on his AAA rehab.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was asked about his 5.0 IP (before the rains hit) performance in Colorado.  The ace credited much of this dominant performance to the man calling the game behind the dish, Dalton Rushing.  Per Gabe Smallson, Dodger Nation:

“I think he was calling my strengths pretty well,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “And then the results I got today, that was just because of the way he called the game.”

Rushing discussed the pitches he called, and why he made them.

“They were going up there pretty aggressive as hitters and those are the two (pitches – curveball or splitter) that kind of got them off-time and allowed him to create more swing and miss,” Rushing said. “Didn’t want to overuse the fastball, overexpose it or allow them to get a good swing on the ball.”

Yamamoto generated 11 swings and misses out of the 56 offerings he threw against the Rockies, 10 of which were from a curveball or splitter (with one coming from a cutter). Although his 95.2 mph fastball is the most used pitch in his arsenal, being hurled 37 percent of the time, Rushing was able to ensure that the swing-happy Colorado lineup was always guessing.

Rushing has obviously been paying attention in the meetings.  He still needs work on blocking balls, but that is not a strength of Will Smith’s either.  This is where Austin Barnes could be so very helpful for the development of Rushing.  But, alas, Austin was not ready to retire or go into coaching.

Actually in a very small sample size, per Statcast, Rushing has better numbers in blocking: Rushing +1 (#28 in MLB), Smith -3 (#54).

Other catcher metrics:

• Framing: Rushing 0 (#30), Smith -6 (#54)
• Pop Time: Rushing 1.94 (#26), Smith 1.94 (#28)
• CS %: Rushing 47% (4 of 9) (#3), Rushing 19% (8 of 42) (#41)
• CS Above Average: Rushing +3 (#16), Smith +1 (#20)
• CS Above Average/Throw: Rushing .28 (#2 in MLB), Smith .04 (#26)

Will Smith is one of the very best offensive players in MLB, not just considering offensive catchers.  Dalton Rushing is still learning MLB pitching.  IMO, he is capable of being an above average MLB hitter, with some power.

Okay, Dalton Rushing is more than deserving of his prospect ranking, and probably deserves higher (but that is nit-piking).  But his value is that of a MLB catcher.  He is already proving to be a quality defensive backstop.  Given time, I would expect him to surpass Smith defensively.

The Dodgers pitching gurus are exceptional at preparing catchers and game calling.  Smith has come a long way with game calling.  And Rushing appears to be more than adept in that category.  Rushing is a MLB catcher, and would be the #1 catcher for a large number of MLB teams.

Now what do the Dodgers do?  If they choose to trade Rushing, the return would be a difference maker(s).  As an example (and no, I am not advocating this), the Marlins would absolutely listen on trading Sandy Alcantara to LAD with Dalton Rushing as the headliner.  I would not do this deal, and IMO, neither would AF/BG.  But the rumor mill seems to like to link the Dodgers with Alcantara.  Miami also seems to be balking at trading Alcantara now, and looks more likely to hold onto him and trade him this winter.

There is not a player out there that is conceivably on the trading block who I would consider comparable in a trade for Rushing.

One other possible influence would be the draft.  In the latest mock draft by MLB Pipeline, they have mocked Catcher Luke Stevenson, North Carolina, as the Dodgers target.  MLB Pipeline has him ranked as #33 draft prospect, one behind Coastal Carolina’s catcher, Caden Bodine. Louisville’s RHP, Patrick Forbes (MLB #31 draft prospect), probably pitched himself into the 30-40 range, and is expected to be taken before LAD picks at 40.

The Dodgers would have to be overwhelmed to trade Rushing, but they do have a more than capable backup catcher in AAA, Hunter Feduccia.  In 246 PA, Feduccia is batting .297/.407/.465/.872, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 6 HR, 38 RBI, 39 BB (15.9%), 52 K (21.1%).  He is a capable defensive catcher, and would be an ideal MLB backup catcher.

There is not a single player out there that the Dodgers need that would require Dalton Rushing.  The Dodgers needs, IMO, are back end relievers, and for me the Dodgers should target Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks, and Baltimore’s Felix Bautista.

The Dodgers do not need a CF, even if one was available.  No, I do not consider Cedric Mullins enough of an upgrade to make a trade for.  If the Pirates want to trade Oneil Cruz for Alex Freeland and Noah Miller, I would not argue, but I cannot see Pittsburgh even considering that.  Jarren Duran has been mentioned as a potential target for teams, especially San Diego.  But the price will be high, and they would probably require Rushing in the deal, and AF/BG would say NO.  Duran is having a down year, and there is no reason for Boston to trade him while his value is low.

If the Dodgers wanted a defensive CF, they could look at Ceddanne Rafaela.  But for me, the Dodgers could be set going into the All Star break with Edman in CF and Kim at 2B and Conforto on the bench as a reserve OF and LH hitting PH.

Bottom line for me…Dalton Rushing is not going anywhere this trade deadline.  While his value in a trade is extremely high, his value to the Dodgers this year is higher.  But the Dodgers are going to have to make decisions going forward with Rushing and Smith.

Contrary to those who believe it is easy to make a transition to 3B for a catcher, it would be as stretch for Smith.  He did not play infield at Louisville.  He appeared in 1 game at 3B and 2 in RF, but not as a starter.  In MiLB Smith has 58 game (54 starts) at 3B and has a fielding percentage of .891 (14 errors in 129 chances).  That is not acceptable.

Smith is a good enough athlete to improve, but how much can he improve?  Max Muncy is often criticized for his defense, and he has a 2025 and career fielding percentage of .944.  Is Smith capable of .944 fielding percentage?  Maybe, but he is not capable of 35 HRs.  Max will be back at 3B next year after the Dodgers exercise their $10MM option.  I have been wrong too many times to never say never again.  Maybe the Dodgers start to transition Smith 3B in 2026 for 2027 fulltime???  In Smith, the Dodgers have a $14MM catcher that only needs a 1.75 fWAR to justify his salary.  That fWAR is more easily achieved at catcher for him. He is already at 2.9 in 2025 after 85 games.

The Dodgers have 2 star quality catchers, and one is already an All Star catcher.  Smith will be a 3-time All Star catcher this year, and he should be voted in this time. Something has to give, but not in July.