Patience and perseverance have defined Dalton Rushing’s journey to prominence. After languishing on the bench for two seasons at Louisville, buried behind 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis, he erupted onto the scene in the Cape Cod League and carried that momentum into a monstrous junior year, launching 23 homers. The Dodgers pounced on his potential in the 2022 Draft, securing him for $1,956,980 in the second round, and he has rewarded their faith with steady ascension through the system.
By 2024, Rushing was not just another name on the prospect lists—he was the name. Crowned the Texas League’s top prospect and the Dodgers’ Minor League Player of the Year, he obliterated baseballs to the tune of 26 home runs, tying for second among all Minor League catchers. Equally important, he refined his craft behind the plate, transforming from a raw backstop into a more polished receiver.
What makes Rushing special is his offensive polish. Armed with a short, compact left-handed stroke, he generates loud, consistent contact and launches baseballs with natural ease—particularly to his pull side, though his power plays to all fields. Unlike many sluggers, he doesn’t sell out for home runs; rather, his blend of discipline and pitch recognition allows him to pile up walks and get on base at a robust clip.
At 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Rushing moves with surprising agility for a catcher. Though his experience behind the dish remains limited—just 46 games in college and 109 in the Minors—his strong arm and rapid development in framing, blocking, and receiving suggest he’s more than capable of sticking at the position. The Dodgers, ever mindful of maximizing their talent pool, began experimenting with him in left field in 2024, providing a path to consistent at-bats alongside All-Star catcher Will Smith. Early returns are promising, and with his offensive prowess, Rushing’s bat will find a home in Los Angeles one way or another.
I have predicted for several years that Will Smith may move (at least part-time) to another position. I doubt that it will be this year, but it could be next year, and it could be LF, where he might share time with Dalton Rushing both in LF and behind the plate. There are things to be decided in the short term:
- When does the torch get passed to Dalton? It’s soon!
- Is Max Muncy a viable 3B for two more years? I think so. He arrived in the best shape of his life… losing 20 pounds since last season, and he is moving better than I have ever seen him move. Kike, Rojas, and CT3 can spell him from time to time.
- The Dodgers love Tommy Baseball at 2B where he is a Gold Glove Wizard, but whether he stays there depends on whether they turn the Pages… or not! Andy Pages is a LH Pitcher Killer and Dodger brass plan to play him just about every day there as they think he will learn to hit RHP as well. Not only can he be a 20 HR hitter, he is capable of 30+ HR and his defensive play is improving dramatically.
- James Outman likely has played his last game with the Dodgers.
- Alex Freeland is the real deal. It won’t hurt him to play SS at OKC all year, but he’s MLB-ready in 2026.
I think that other than normal rest (and “normal” rest may be quite liberal), the lineup will be set:
- Ohtani DH
- Betts SS
- Freeman 1B
- Teoscar RF
- Muncy 3B
- Smith C
- Conforto LF
- Edman 2B
- Pages CF
Rojas, Taylor, Kike, and Barnsie will get plenty of playing time. Keep the guys FRESH.
Who’s the Ace?
A lot of people think it is Snell, but The Athletic ranked the starters, and here’s how they ranked the Dodger Starters:
- Yoshi Yamamoto
- Blake Snell
- Tyler Glasnow
- Roki Sasaki
Yamamoto, Snell, and Glasnow are all Top 20 starters, but Sasaki was ranked at #23. Jack Flaherty was ranked #44. I do not think any will exceed 130-140 innings and the Dodger’s depth will play up big time. Knack, Wrobleski, Kershaw, and Gonsolin are all in the mix. I think Yamamoto will be the Opening Day Starter!… and then there is Ohtani!
Nice write up!
Do you think David Bote ad Eddie Rosario check their egos and play for the Comets? Maybe for the chance to be a part of an epic repeat? OKC would be absolutely loaded. The depth that AF assembled is mind boggling. What a fun year this is going to be.
Book em
They will play at OKC… unless they get a better offer.
Rosario has not really did much!
Mark; I think you miss listing May as starting pitchers first the Dodgers.
Dano; I agree with you about Knack and his change up in game 2. Maybe he’ll throw 60+ in a row like Kahnle.
I am counting on May to be the 5th starter at the beginning of the season. Then, when Ohtani is added, I think they will go to a six-man rotation.
Some fans, I think, forget just how dominant Shohei can be on the mound.
He compiled a 38-19 record for a crappy team that never made the playoffs.
He Ks more than 11 batters per nine innings.
His best year as a pitcher was in ’22, when he had a 2.33 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 166 innings. He finished 4th in Cy Young voting–and second to Judge for MVP.
Over the past four seasons, he has won MVP three times and finished second once.
Pretty incredible how good the bullpen looked without Gonsolin/May, Kopech, or Phillips! Pretty incredible how the offense will be when you add back Mookie and Freddie! Pretty incredible that that Glasnow will start the 4th game of the season for this team! Man this team really could be an ALL TIME great team!
It is certainly shaping up like that!
Graterol ia also missing.
Wire to wire, baby!
The Boston Celtics were sold today for 6.1 billion dollars in a dying sport. What are the Dodgers really worth as an International brand?
14 Billion
100 Billion Dollars
The Dodger’s value seems low especially what they’ve done in the Japanese market with Ohtoni. I believe next year’s value willl be much higher as revenues contain to climb and we hopefully compete and win another World Series.
The main reason it is low is that their Operating Income is low. That needs to go up 5X before the value will exceed the Yankees.
Doc came out and said that CF and 2B will be fluid. Kike, Andy and Miggy will play 3 to 5 games a week and Tommy every day. No mention of CT3 ? I do agree with Tommy and Andy almost every day. Mark, no mention of Bobby Miller. And Casperius can start, but his nasty stuff plays well in the bully. I’m pumped up for the Dodgers making big time history. After all, history is written by the victors. Here’s my world series winning headlines:
Mr. Rocktober strikes again!
A Pages for the ages!
Okey Dokey Roki!
What an incredible Sho!
And…The GOAT seals the win!
I do believe in magic.
Book em
Taylor is the 26th man on the 26 man roster and will be used sparingly,maybe once, mabe at most twice in a given week. The only thing keeping him from being released is AF’s loyalty and his salary of 15 million.
Another reason he won’t be released is you can’t have Freeland, Rushing etc. languishing on the bench. Gotta give them playing time. Besides, Taylor is valuable as a late inning rep. Just not at the plate.
Book em
He will come up big in some big spots this year…..
I’m definitely rooting for Chris. He’s a gritty player and a team guy!
Book em
FWIW, Taylor didn’t suck after the all-star break last season, producing a .765 OPS in 66 ABs.
Limited action because he is the 26th man.
He’s still a good defender all over the field and still runs well.
That OPS was / is average.
When the high point of your season is a small sample where you achieve mediocrity, perhaps your season is an abject failure
Yes, Roberts’ comments about 2B and CF suggest that Pages will be in a job share…
That said, the Dodgers still might decide to give him a long leash to help him improve against right-handed pitching, and improve his defense as well.
Will Outman play for the Dodgers again? I don’t see why not. He’s the team’s best OF defender not named Mookie, and just a phone call away. And his spring OPS was better than Pages.
Besides, it’s just getting harder to conjure trades that will improve this powerhouse…
Just occurred to me that the Dodgers could have gotten Verdugo back for about $1.5 million. Not that I think they should have. But how the semi-mighty have fallen.
OKC’s rotation will feature Miller, Knack and Wrobleski. Each would be a starter for several ML teams.
And Jackson Ferris will pitch for the Comets too, right? He might be the most talented of the group. Does Frasso round out the OKC rotation?
The current IL rotation: Gonsolin, Kershaw, Sheehan (all due this season) and Stone, Ryan and Hurt (due back in ’26).
Alex Verdugo signed by the Braves to a one-year 1.5 million dollar contract.
So, Alex Anthopoulos was with the Dodgers when Alex Verdugo was a Top Prospect. I’m sure he has some context, and his eyes are wide open, but this could be the make-or-break humbling moment Alex needs!
BTW, Alex Brother used to comment here.
Not what Verdugo was hoping to sign for.
That’s what he’s worth.
He thought he was worth $12 Million.
Welcome to Earth, Alex!
Verdugo agreed to go to AAA Gwinnett to ramp up with the season just a week away. Sheets makes the Padres opening day roster. Luke Williams out righted to AAA by the Braves.
It seems like being a dick has cost Verdugo millions of dollars.
As Porky Pig often said–“Tat’s all folkes”
MLBTR https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/36-veteran-players-with-looming-opt-out-dates.html
Lists players with Opt-Out dates.
The Dodgers do not have any, which means that Bote and Rosario are likely headed to OKC.
For anyone who has an AppleTV subscription there is a World Series documentary, Fight For Glory. The three-part series debuts March 28 on Apple TV+. The new documentary promises exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the Dodgers’ march to a five-game championship victory over the Yankees.
I hate Apple but I will get a Sub just to watch this!!!
Leaving for LA for the opening series next week!!
I will be there April 1st.
Sorry about your Tigers!
That was a brutal 1st half….and the first 10 mins of the second half.
Where you staying in LA? We got an AirBNB not too far from the Stadium….
We are staying in Long Beach, because on the 2nd we are taking a cruise out of there. We have two AirBNB’s and 14 of the family staying. On April 1st, it will be my son, son-in-law (Red Sox Fan) and my wife going to the game. We also have to make a trip to Valencia and Disneyland. Are you going to be at the game on the 1st?
Sounds great!
No Im heading back the 31st.
We are going to all 3 of the opening series.
Should be a lot of fun.
“A recent report from Sportico’s Kurt Badenhausen claimed that despite the $2 million due from the Dodgers this season, Ohtoni the two-way star is set to earn upwards of $100 million this year.
Badenhausen reported that his estimated $100 million in off-the-diamond endorsements has only been reached once by global athletic icons like Tiger Woods, Rober Federer, and Stephen Curry. As Ohtani will only turn 31 this July, one can comfortably guess that this won’t be the only time the three-time MVP hits this mark.
The deferred contract clearly isn’t an issue for Ohtani’s annual earning as he added six more companies to his endorsement portfolio, bringing his total number of brand partners to 20. New Balance, Beats, Fanatics/Topps, and most recently Epic Games are just a few major brands that Ohtani works with”.
Looks like MLB is collecting strike zone data for each player to input into the ABS system, including height. Gavin Lux came in a tad shorter than his purported 6’2″. Looks like he’s only 5’11”. At least it will make his strike zone smaller.
Book em
Right-hander Yu Darvish will begin the season on the injured list. Manager Mike Shildt informed reporters today, including Dennis Lin of The Athletic and AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The righty was diagnosed with elbow inflammation earlier this week.
Julio Urias has been suspended by MLB through 7/17/25 (All Star break)
Lots of fun stuff at Fangraphs (not $$$$, but you should give)
Positional rankings have the Dodgers:
#1 at DH (wow.)
#12 at RF
#15 at CF
#22 at LF
#13 at 3B
#3 at SS
#23 at 2B (ALERT: They have KIM there)
#3 at 1B
#12 at C
Longenhagen had a chat:
Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat: 3/21/25
Jace, the Mind Sculptor: Is Jack Hostetler going to be a thing? Any other totally off the radar guys popping up this spring?
Eric A Longenhagen: Watched Lucas Wepf sit 94-97 at Dodgers camp yesterday, heavy split. Lower lev RP look.
Lord Thunder: Is Thayron Liranzo a better bet to be a catcher long-term than Josue Briceno?
Eric A Longenhagen: No, Josue is more skilled back there, Liranzo has the hose and freakier size/power
Mike Tyson: Designated Hitter: unabashed fantasy question. Trying to future value Schwellenbach versus Roki and Jobe and Painter. Are the latter three potentially much better than Schwelly? Bonus question. Sounds like Roki not fully developed. Fastball shape may require a third pitch. How likely do you judge his ability to add a new pitch and how long until the Roki Death Star fully operational?
Eric A Longenhagen: Roki’s heater has lost some vert compared to Japan, he’s going to have an adjustment period to the different baseball. He’s been more in the 15″ vert area. But the guy has a freaky split (it’s basically an 85 mph knuckler), his slider is better than it was in Japan already, he’s reaching back for 101…he’s gonna be fine
12:42Lord Thunder: Tough camp for Edgardo Henriquez. Do you think he’ll pitch meaningful bullpen innings for the Dodgers this year?
Eric A Longenhagen: Maybe late, it’s his foot not his arm.
GA Blood: Are there any guys who are just fun and you want to see them succeed? I’m thinking of Cijntje, but he’s an extreme example.
Eric A Longenhagen: Definitely him, Chandler Simpson, Jose Rodriguez (Dodgers), Jusin Crawford, Endy Rodriguez, Zyhir Hope, Amador…so many guys are fun
Dodgers Blue: In your opinion, is the return on a trade for Coby Mayo diminishing by the day for the Orioles?
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, if he can’t hit these in-zone sliders then he can’t hit enough to be a 1B
Thanks Bluto… Good Stuff!
I am going to triple your pay for your good work.
I’m calling my lawyer for representation! I’m not settling for less than 5X.
OK… 4X 😉
Interesting take on Sasaki
https://flip.it/IDKDti
Hirooka may be correct about everything he says, but the fact remains that the Dodgers have 6 years of control over him for practically no cost. It was a gamble well worth taking, even if it winds up a total failure.
And I’m guessing that Hirooka is not very happy at all the Japanese stars suddenly being anxious to test themselves over here. That may be coloring his opinion somewhat.
Jealously!