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Dalton Rushing took full responsibility for a passed ball incident involving Shohei Ohtani, telling reporters he needs to “grow from this,” per Jack Harris at the New York Post. The young catcher owned the moment directly rather than deflecting — a notable response from a player still establishing himself at the major league level.

Rushing has been one of the more exciting storylines in the Dodgers’ 2026 season. The former first-round pick out of Louisville came into the year as one of baseball’s top catching prospects, and he’s shown exactly why. His bat has played at the big league level — we just saw him go back-to-back with Kyle Tucker in the blowout win over the Padres — and his willingness to handle a pitching staff that includes some of the game’s biggest arms has been impressive for a player his age. But catching is about more than hitting, and moments like this one are part of the development curve. Passed balls happen to every catcher, but when one involves Ohtani, the spotlight gets a lot brighter.

Ohtani, of course, is the franchise’s centerpiece and one of the most valuable players in baseball history. Any incident that puts him at risk is going to draw attention, and rightfully so. The Dodgers have built their entire competitive window around Ohtani’s generational talent on both sides of the ball, and keeping him healthy is priority number one every single day. The fact that this was a scare rather than something more serious is the important takeaway here.

What stands out to me is how Rushing handled it. He didn’t make excuses. He didn’t minimize it. He said plainly that he needs to be better and grow from the experience. That’s the kind of accountability you want from a young player who’s going to be catching in this organization for a long time. The Dodgers have been without Will Smith due to a neck injury (and he may not return until after the All-Star break), which has put Rushing in an expanded role earlier than the team probably planned. That’s a lot of pressure, and how a young player responds to adversity matters as much as how he responds to success.

For the Dodgers, this is a small but meaningful moment in Rushing’s development. The kid can clearly hit — that’s been established. The defensive side of catching, including the mental side, takes longer to refine. Every veteran catcher in baseball has stories about plays they wish they could have back, and how those plays shaped the way they approached the position going forward. Rushing saying the right things is step one. Translating that into improved execution behind the plate is the work that happens between the lines every day. With Smith still out, the Dodgers need Rushing to keep growing in real time, and based on how he handled this situation, I think he’s up for it.

Source(s): Jack Harris (New York Post) | First reported: June 29, 2026 4:54 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers