Dodgers Interview: Rushing is in a “good spot,” needs to understand role, Doc says
CAMELBACK RANCH, AZ — With the Cactus League opener on the horizon, the rhythm of camp in Glendale for the Dodgers is starting to intensify. For some. With his veteran group, manager Dave Roberts knows that he can slow play some of his starters as they ease their way into the regular season. The nice side benefit of that is it gives the Dodgers skipper a chance to look over the fresh faces in camp who are if not vying for a spot on the roster at least trying to make an impression before heading to their minor league assignment. Dave Roberts has leaned into it. He’s been watching the younger group closely, trying to learn who’s not quite ready for the pace and who can already carry the standard. And when the conversation turned to Dalton Rushing, Roberts sounded like a manager who sees a talented young catcher settling into the reality of a very specific major-league job.
Roberts said camp matters for this group because he already knows what he has in a lot of the veterans, and this is the window to get familiar with the next wave. “It’s very important. I think that I’ve got a pretty good handle on the guys that we’ve had for a while,” Roberts said. “I’m trying to learn the younger guys on the pitching side, on the position player side, and get more familiar. So, yeah, I’m spending a little bit more time and I just want to make sure that the standard of performance and preparation is what it needs to be.”
He rattled off a handful of names right away, especially in the outfield group and on the infield, but the most telling stretch of the scrum came when he was asked what he needs from Rushing in Year 2. Roberts framed it around role clarity first, then the daily mental grind that comes with being a backup catcher on a team with a set starter and a packed lineup.
“Dalton’s in a good spot right now,” Roberts said. “I think just trying to understand 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. But I think that just kind of still maturing because it’s not easy to not play every day when you’re used to that. But I think that he grew last year and I like where he’s at right now.”
That “learn the pitchers” part is the key line, because for a young catcher, earning trust happens in details that don’t show up in a box score. Roberts kept coming back to the idea that Rushing’s job is to stay engaged even when he’s not in the lineup, and to prepare like he might be entering the game at any point. Experience, Roberts said, is what turns that from a stressful surprise into a normal expectation.
“I think that also comes with experience,” Roberts said. “Knowing that you don’t know when you’re going to come into a game, but you’re watching and you’re expecting to go into the game. Understand the scoreboard and you know you’re the last guy on the bench that potentially could catch and play first base and to get your first baseman off his feet. As you start to watch and learn, you expect those spots and you shouldn’t be surprised. So I expect that to be gone now this year.”
Roberts was also asked whether Rushing’s role can stretch beyond backing up behind the plate. The outfield idea got shut down quickly. First base, though, remains part of the conversation, especially on the days Freddie Freeman sits or comes out early, and especially depending on how the roster shakes out.
“Outfield’s not on the table,” Roberts said. “I do think that there’s going to be some spots for him to come into games. If Freddie’s out or if there’s a game he doesn’t play, we’ll see how that lines up. And I think right now for me, just seeing how the roster plays out as far as what other options we might have at first base. But I do want to get him at-bats when I can.”
Then came the honest part that every young hitter who becomes a part-time player has to learn. Roberts didn’t pretend it’s simple. He talked about simplifying the process, figuring out what “wins” look like when you’re only playing a couple times a week, and understanding that development doesn’t always show up as hits when the reps are limited.
“It’s not easy. It’s hard,” Roberts said. “That’s why I think that you’ve got to simplify things. Understand what are wins and what are not wins. Because hitters, players are designed to look at production, but when you’re not playing every day as a young player who could always use the repetitions, production isn’t always just getting hits. Ideally you’d love for him to get 500 at-bats this year to continue to evolve and catch innings, but looking at the depth chart, I think he still chooses to be a major league player.”
Rushing’s personality came up too, because anybody who’s watched him for five minutes can see the edge. Roberts said he hasn’t had that specific conversation with him yet this spring, but he also made it clear he likes the fire and isn’t interested in sanding it down. The goal is management, not removal.
“Not yet,” Roberts said. “I had those last year, but I’m kind of reading and reacting. So he understands that he needs to manage his emotions, but I don’t want to take that away as far as the fire. Because he is an emotional guy and that’s not always a bad thing. But you’ve got to understand how to manage it at times, too.”
Put it all together and it’s a pretty clean snapshot of where the Dodgers see Rushing right now. The talent is still the talent. The job is learning how to contribute in the margins, staying ready for the moment the game calls his number, and building trust with a pitching staff that expects the catcher to be locked in whether he’s starting or sitting. Roberts made it sound like Rushing has already taken some steps there. Now comes the part where the role stops feeling new, and starts feeling like his.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
