Dalton Rushing Steps Up as Dodgers Starter
A second-year backup stepped in for a three-time All-Star — and hasn’t looked back. Here’s what Dalton Rushing’s summer teaches every catcher waiting for their moment.
On July 6, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies for their 60th win of the season. The hit that ended it was a walk-off single from a 24-year-old catcher who wasn’t yet a household name.
His name is Dalton Rushing.
Will Smith, the Dodgers’ three-time All-Star behind the plate, went on the injured list June 6 with neck inflammation. The expectation was a short absence. Then one update pushed the timeline back. Then another. The All-Star break came and went. Smith stayed out. Every day the Dodgers needed a catcher, and every day Rushing showed up.
By the time he lined that walk-off single into the outfield grass, the numbers made a clear case:
| G | AVG | OPS | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | .264 | .839 | 10 | 30 |
An .839 OPS puts him in the company of catchers who start All-Star Games. In July alone, Rushing is hitting .308/.367/.538. Back on April 15, he drilled his first career grand slam against the New York Mets. He is a second-year player building a résumé in real time.
The backdrop makes it stranger. The Dodgers have reportedly fielded trade inquiries about Rushing before the deadline — meaning he is earning the job while the front office debates whether to keep him. He is not wasting energy on that. He is just playing.
What a catcher can learn from this
Rushing was the backup. He was the second name on the depth chart, behind one of the best catchers in baseball. His job, for months, was to be ready without being needed.
When Smith went down, Rushing did not need weeks to find himself. He was already there. The 2022 second-round pick, selected 40th overall, had been doing the work quietly since the day the Dodgers drafted him.
That is the lesson. The catchers who are ready when the moment comes are not lucky — they are prepared. The extra reps in the bullpen, the hours spent studying how a pitcher tips his pitches, the at-bats in Triple-A when the big league callup feels far away — that is what made a walk-off single feel automatic on a July Tuesday night.
You may not be the starter right now. The work you do today is the only reason you will be ready when the moment comes.
Try this at your next practice
- Backup rep protocol. Even if you’re not starting today, take 20 full receiving reps in warm-ups — not half-speed, full game intensity. The purpose is to stay mechanically sharp so your hands and footwork are automatic when your number is called.
- Pitcher study session. Before or after practice, watch 10 minutes of video (or recall from memory) of one pitcher you might catch this week. Identify one tendency — how they hold their glove before a breaking ball, where they land when they’re off-balance. Make a note. This is what “studying how a pitcher tips his pitches” actually looks like at any level.
- Extra bullpen blocking. Ask your coach for 5–10 minutes of extra blocking reps after a practice session. Blocking is the part of catching that requires the most reps to stay automatic. A backup catcher who blocks cleanly on pitch one of their first start is a catcher who has been putting in the work.
Sources: Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing Linked to AL Squad as ‘Dream Match’ in Trade (Sports Illustrated) · Will Smith Won’t Return Anytime Soon After Unfortunate Update (Sports Illustrated) · Will Smith will remain on injured list until after the All-Star break (MLB.com)
