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Dalton Rushing has been making the most of his opportunity to prove he belongs as the Dodgers’ everyday catcher, per Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register. With extended playing time behind the plate, the young backstop has had the chance to show what he can do on a consistent basis — and the results are starting to paint a clearer picture of his role going forward.

Rushing came into the organization as one of the Dodgers’ most highly regarded catching prospects. Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Louisville, he shot through the minor league system with a bat that stood out immediately for a catcher — a left-handed hitter with real power and a disciplined approach at the plate. His offensive profile always made him an intriguing piece, but the question was whether his defense and game-calling would develop quickly enough to earn everyday reps at the major league level. That question is now being answered in real time. Getting regular at-bats and regular innings behind the plate is the only way a young catcher truly develops, and the Dodgers have given Rushing that runway.

For a team that has cycled through catching options over the past couple of seasons, having a homegrown answer at the position would be significant. The Dodgers have tried various combinations — veterans, platoons, short-term fixes — and none of them have felt like a long-term solution. Rushing has the ceiling to be that guy. His left-handed pop plays well at Dodger Stadium, and his ability to work counts and get on base adds another dimension to a lineup that already has plenty of firepower. The defensive side is where he still needs to prove himself, and that only comes with consistent reps.

I think this is one of the more important under-the-radar storylines for us right now. We talk a lot about the rotation, the trade deadline, the bullpen — and all of that matters. But if Rushing can solidify himself as the everyday catcher, that changes the calculus on a lot of things. It potentially takes catching off the deadline shopping list (and it could free up resources to address other needs). It also gives the lineup a boost from a position that has been largely a black hole offensively around the league.

The Dodgers have been patient with Rushing’s development, and that patience is being tested now in real games that matter. He doesn’t need to be an All-Star tomorrow. He just needs to show he can handle the daily grind — framing pitches, managing a deep pitching staff, and contributing enough at the plate to justify keeping him in the lineup. So far, the opportunity has been there. Now it’s about what he does with it over the next couple of months as we push toward October.

Source(s): Bill Plunkett (Orange County Register) | First reported: July 27, 2026 1:24 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers