"You have to go through the dark to get to the light, I think, sometimes. That's kind of the way I looked at it: he went through my dark last year, and now I'm hoping for light."
"Dalton's in a good spot right now. I want him to understand his role as a backup catcher, what that entails. Really learn the pitchers, learn a swing that works for playing a couple times a week. He's used to playing a lot more."
Dalton Rushing, a former top prospect, made his major league debut in May 2025 but struggled to secure consistent playing time with the Dodgers. Will Smith, the team's All-Star catcher, is helping mentor Rushing through this challenging period, drawing from his own experience competing with established catchers when he debuted in 2019. Rushing appeared in 53 games last season with limited offensive production, posting a .204 batting average and .582 OPS. For 2026, Rushing will remain Smith's backup but may also fill in at first base for Freddie Freeman. Manager Dave Roberts emphasized Rushing needs to develop his backup role and learn to be effective playing limited games weekly.
#dalton-rushing #will-smith-mentorship #los-angeles-dodgers #catcher-competition #2026-roster-planning
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