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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts singled out backup catcher Dalton Rushing for his skill in using the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, calling him “very good” with the technology, per DodgerBlue.com staff. Rushing enters play Wednesday slashing .286/.365/.552 with four doubles, eight home runs, and 21 RBI in just 36 games — a legitimate breakout after a rough limited showing in 2024.

Rushing was the Dodgers’ first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2022 draft out of Louisville, and he rocketed through the minors on the strength of his bat and his ability to work counts. His pitch recognition and plate discipline were always considered advanced for a catching prospect, which is exactly the skill set that translates to excelling with ABS challenges. The system lets batters challenge a limited number of ball-strike calls per game using the automated zone, and a hitter who truly knows the strike zone — not just one who argues with umpires — gets real, tangible value out of it. Roberts pointing this out isn’t just a throwaway compliment. It tells us Rushing is leveraging the system in meaningful at-bats, and that the coaching staff has noticed.

Last year, Rushing looked a bit overmatched in his brief big-league cameo, which wasn’t surprising for a young catcher adjusting to major league pitching. The swing decisions weren’t as crisp, and there were questions about whether his bat would play at the highest level or if the defensive demands of catching were sapping his offensive production. Those questions look answered — at least for now. A .552 slugging percentage as a backup catcher is elite-level production, and eight homers in 36 games puts him on a pace that would make him one of the more productive catchers in the league if stretched over a full season.

What makes this particularly interesting for us is the ABS angle. The challenge system has quietly become a real differentiator across the league. Hitters who understand the zone and pick their spots to challenge are essentially buying themselves extra baserunners over the course of a season. It’s a skill, and it’s one that doesn’t get talked about enough. Rushing apparently has it, and Roberts clearly values it.

For the Dodgers, Rushing’s emergence gives them a legitimate weapon behind Will Smith (who, as we’ve covered, is dealing with lingering neck stiffness that could land him on the IL). If Smith does miss time, the drop-off to Rushing right now isn’t much of a drop-off at all — it might even be a lateral move offensively given how Rushing is swinging it. That’s an enormous luxury. Most teams in baseball would love to have a backup catcher producing at this level, and the Dodgers essentially developed one in-house. I’d keep a close eye on Rushing’s playing time over the next few weeks. If Smith’s neck issue drags on, Rushing could see a significantly expanded role — and based on what we’re seeing, he’s ready for it.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: June 10, 2026 3:16 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers