Dodgers say Dalton Rushing will likely catch Shohei Ohtani again
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani's next pitching start will "most likely" feature Dalton Rushing behind the plate again, even after the pair's viral, out-of-sync meltdown against the Minnesota Twins. With Will Smith still sidelined by a neck injury, Los Angeles has limited catching options—and Roberts expects the battery to move forward together.
Key Takeaways
- Roberts said Rushing will "most likely" catch Ohtani's next start despite Wednesday's viral frustrations in Minnesota.
- Ohtani and Rushing got crossed up on a 101.7 mph fastball in a three-run second inning; Ohtani called his own pitches the rest of the outing.
- Will Smith remains out with an inflamed disk in his neck, leaving Rushing as the primary option over journeyman Chuckie Robinson.
- Rushing's on-field emotions went viral again days later when he waved off Dave Roberts and trainers during a Padres game.
- Ohtani has allowed nine earned runs in 18 2/3 innings with Rushing catching, compared with five in 61 innings with Smith.
What happened between Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing?
During the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, Ohtani and Rushing fell badly out of sync in the second inning. Three hits loaded the bases before the battery crossed signals on a 101.7 mph fastball that sailed to the backstop for a passed ball, plating the first of three Twins runs that inning, as The Athletic reported.
Ohtani also wanted to challenge two pitches he believed were strikes. On the second challenge, he initiated a review while Rushing demonstrably shook his head—the call was overturned by a fraction of an inch. Ohtani later said he lacked conviction behind pitches Rushing called in the first two innings.
From the third inning on, Ohtani took over pitch calling himself. He finished with eight strikeouts over six innings and added an RBI single in a three-run third that put Los Angeles ahead for good, per ESPN.
Why will Rushing likely catch Ohtani again?
Speaking in San Diego on Friday, Roberts said the pairing is expected to continue primarily because Smith is still not doing baseball activities. The three-time All-Star is on the injured list with an inflamed disk in his neck, and Roberts noted alternatives beyond Rushing are thin.
Rushing has caught each of Ohtani's last three starts during Smith's absence. Those outings coincided with Ohtani managing a blister on his middle finger and a swollen left knee, which Roberts said clouds the raw numbers. Still, the contrast with Smith behind the plate is stark.
Roberts also said Ohtani is "very particular" about pitch selection—clearer than most pitchers—making chemistry with a young catcher especially important. He added he does not expect another blow-up like Wednesday's: "I really feel that going forward, we'll all be on the same page."
Why are Rushing's outbursts going viral again?
Rushing called the Twins game "embarrassing" and said needing teammates and staff support was "a pretty tough pill to swallow." Cameras caught Freddie Freeman, pitching coach Mark Prior, mental skills coach Brent Walker, and Roberts all speaking with him in the dugout.
Days later, during a 15-3 Dodgers rout of the San Diego Padres, Rushing starred for the wrong reasons again. After appearing to wince during his first at-bat, he waved off Roberts and team trainers when they checked on him—turning a routine injury precaution into another viral moment, according to Dodgers Way.
Roberts said Rushing sometimes "kind of sees red" without realizing he is going viral in the moment, but understands there are consequences. For a player whose April hot streak has cooled to a .565 OPS over 32 games since May, every reaction is now part of the story—making this one of the most bizarre bench dramas in recent MLB memory, the kind of spectacle that fits right alongside our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.