Dodgers Rookie Dalton Rushing Records Two-Hit Performance in MLB Debut
There was no shortage of offence in Thursday’s 19-2 blowout victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers, which received contributions throughout its lineup, including from rookie catcher Dalton Rushing.
The 24-year-old made his highly anticipated major league debut versus the Athletics in front of the home faithful at Dodger Stadium, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk. He also spent all nine innings behind home plate, catching Matt Sauer’s first career big-league start.
Rushing – the organization’s top prospect and No. 15 in the sport per MLB Pipeline – earned a five-pitch walk in his first plate appearance during the second inning, teasing his impressive 15.9-percent walk rate in 31 games at Triple-A this season.
In his next trip to the plate, the left-handed-hitting backstop worked a 3-2 count before sending a 110-mph ground ball back up the middle for his first big-league hit – the hardest first-career hit by a Dodgers rookie in their MLB debut in the Statcast era (since 2015).
The 2022 second-round selection added another single in the eighth inning, which came off his bat at 100.3 mph, allowing him to reach safely for the third time. Such a performance calmed his nerves almost instantly, which he admitted was a challenge heading into the night.
“I think I was more nervous before the game, just to catch the first pitch and just actually make sure I catch the first pitch,” Rushing shared with reporters post-game, including MLB.com’s Sonja Chen. “Once I got that out of the way, I felt as if I was pretty comfortable.”
Rushing revealed he had several friends and family in attendance for his first major league game, including his mom, who received the ball post-game from his first of two hits.
“It’s going to mean the world to her,” Rushing said. “It means the world to be able to give it to her, for me, and obviously it’s going to be something she cherishes for the rest of her life.”
Los Angeles selected Rushing’s contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, paving the way for his big-league debut a night ago. To make room, however, veteran catcher Austin Barnes – a beloved figure who had spent his entire 11-year major league career with the organization – was designated for assignment.
It was a difficult decision, but it should provide an extra source of offence to the Dodgers’ lineup, considering the young backstop was hitting .308/.424/.514 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in Triple-A at the time of his call-up.
“He’s a hitter. … He’s a strong kid,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He just takes good at-bats, and he controls the strike zone. And there’s some slug in there, too.”
Creating sufficient playing time for Rushing moving forward will be the key for Roberts, considering the team already has its franchise catcher in Will Smith – inked to a 10-year, $140-million extension that runs through 2033.
While the Dodgers’ rookie backstop added versatility during his path to the majors, previously taking reps at first base and in left field, the current plan is to have him exclusively focus on catching, at least for now.
If Rushing continues to perform like he did during his unforgettable debut against the A’s, the Memphis, Tennessee, native shouldn’t have any issues forcing his way into Los Angeles’ lineup consistently.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: SpannerAol. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.