In a move that signals a new era behind the plate, the Los Angeles Dodgers designated longtime backup catcher Austin Barnes for assignment last week and called up top prospect Dalton Rushing. The decision ended Barnes’ 11-year run with the franchise, a surprising but telling move that performance — not tenure — dictates roster spots on a team chasing its 10th World Series title.
Barnes, the Dodgers’ longest-tenured position player, had struggled both offensively and defensively in 2025. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision. “Austin’s been a mainstay for our club for eight years. So it’s certainly not easy, but I think the performance from Dalton kind of really sped this up.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Make Bold Call, Promote Dalton Rushing After DFAing Austin Barnes
Rushing, 24, forced the club’s hand with a dominant start at Triple-A Oklahoma City, slashing .308/.424/.514 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 31 games. He debuted Thursday, going 2-for-3 in a 19-2 blowout of the Athletics and has since gone 4-for-10 with two RBIs.
“The bat has always played,” Roberts said. “But the receiving has gotten much better, the arm strength is there, and the relationship with pitchers has continued to grow.”
Rushing brings more than just talent. “You look at who I’m surrounded by, and it’s some of the best baseball players to learn from,” he said. “That’s up to me — to show up, play, help the team win.”
Though he’ll serve primarily as Will Smith’s backup, Rushing’s promotion signals the Dodgers’ urgency. As Roberts put it, “It’s an opportunity to challenge him… and give him some runway.”
For a club with championship ambitions, the message is clear: the future is now — and Dalton Rushing is ready.