Dodgers News: Dalton Rushing Heading to OKC for Rehab Assignment
After a scary leg injury, rookie catcher Dalton Rushing will head to OKC for a minor league rehab stint
LOS ANGELES, CA—Just days after losing All-Star catcher Will Smith for the weekend due to a right-hand injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers also lost rookie catcher and top prospect Dalton Rushing.
Last Friday in Baltimore, Rushing fouled off a hard-hit ball that struck his right shin, instantly causing him pain. He collapsed to the ground and needed assistance from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and an athletic trainer to leave the field.
Rushing was placed on the 10-day injured list the following night, with minor league catcher Chuckie Robinson being recalled in his absence.
After a few days off his feet, Rushing was seen at Dodger Stadium testing his leg and participated in throwing and hitting drills before yesterday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Now the next step will be a short minor league rehab assignment, per Dave Roberts.
“Dalton is doing well. Went out and threw to bases, hit today. So, I think tomorrow he’s going to head out on a rehab assignment…. So the plan would be—get him back here at some point in time next week.”
Unlike with the injury to Will Smith, the Dodgers are in no rush to get Rushing back as the backup catcher has not been the best offensively this season.
Overall, Rushing has hit just .190 this season with a below league average 54 wRC+ as the top prospect has struggled adjusting to a backup role.
In his absence, though, Rushing’s replacement, Ben Rortvedt, has been fantastic behind the plate, leading the Dodgers’ pitching staff to two near no-hitters with Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s this past Saturday and Tyler Glasnow’s on Monday.
The earliest eligible return date for Rushing would be September 16th.
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