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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing has been in the spotlight for his fiery on-field persona, creating a good deal of headlines.
Rushing has been a top prospect with the Dodgers for years, taken early in the draft and coming with a high pedigree.
At the start of 2026, Rushing has begun to figure things out, hitting the ball hard and often, finally making good on his high potential as a hitter with a great approach, bat-to-ball skills, and serious power.
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He can play at first base as well, and while he has not gotten too many starts due to Will Smith hogging the starting spot, Rushing has made the most out of his chances.
In 2025, Rushing only hit .204 with a .582 OPS; however, he is up to .264 with a .870 OPS. Additionally, as a catcher, is calling the game better than he did in his rookie season and catching the ball better behind the dish.
While his contribution has been a welcome surprise, Rushing has also sparked considerable controversy, most of it from the outside baseball world.
Muncy’s defense of Rushing
Whether it has been comments about the Colorado Rockies’ reading of pitches or a collision with San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee, his playstyle and manneeism have taken up a good deal of oxygen.
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Rushing plays with a good deal of ferocity, talking smack on the field and competing hard against the opposition.
Muncy, a longtime Dodger, came to Rushing’s defense during a recent interview and does not believe Rushing should change anything about his approach.
Apr 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates with first baseman Dalton Rushing (68) after the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
“Well, he’s great as a teammate. You know, he’s a great kid. He’s well received in the clubhouse, and honestly, it’s just one of those things where, you kind of mentioned it, when he gets on the field, he plays a certain way, and that’s what makes him good,” Muncy said of Rushing on Foul Territory.
“And that’s why, for us, we’ve stated several times as a team, we like to let guys be who they are. We don’t want to change who they are. If a guy needs to play a certain way to perform, we want him to play that way.
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“And when it comes to him, when he gets on the field, it’s a very football mentality. He might see red a little bit, but ultimately that’s what’s made him the player he is. It’s gotten him to the big leagues, and it’s gotten him the start that he’s had. That’s just how he plays the game.
“The ironic thing is that’s not who he is in the clubhouse or who he is as a teammate. It’s just how it comes out on the field.”
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Rushing already provides a good deal of youth to an old Dodgers roster that needs some freshening up, and with the youthful energy comes the fistiness and lack of fear, both of which the young catcher has in spades.
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