With the Los Angeles Dodgers holding the best record in baseball, the focus remains not just on the present—but the future. One rising talent earning increasing attention is rookie catcher Dalton Rushing, whose growth behind the plate has caught the eye of teammates and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts alike.
Los Angeles Dodgers Rookie: “He’s Going to Be a Superstar”
Roberts didn’t hold back when assessing Rushing’s potential.
“He feels that he’s going to be a superstar,” Roberts said. “I love him in the box. He’s very confident. He controls the hitting zone, and he’s going to be a good one for a long time.”
While Rushing’s overall numbers—.229/.327/.333 with an 88 OPS+—suggest there’s room to grow, his recent play hints at a breakout. He’s hitting .333 over his last five games with a .917 OPS.
Roberts emphasized that stardom is as much about mentality as it is performance: “Superstars that I’ve been around, they have an edge and a chip. And I just think that he plays with an edge and a chip. He always feels he’s the best option.”
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Earning Trust Behind the Plate
Rushing’s contributions go well beyond the batter’s box. He’s already built trust with high-profile arms like Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
After a dominant outing from Yamamoto at Coors Field, the Dodgers ace credited Rushing: “The results I got today, that was just because of the way he called the game.”
That trust is built on preparation. Rushing works closely with pitchers during game-planning sessions and takes live at-bats against rehabbing arms to stay sharp.
“Dalton is building relationships with the pitchers,” said Roberts. “That gets you a little more grace.”
While he’s currently serving in a backup role to All-Star Will Smith, Dalton Rushing is making a compelling case that his star turn may arrive sooner than expected.