Top prospect Dalton Rushing joins the Dodgers, adding power and versatility to an already loaded roster in a postseason-bound season.
In a season already gilded with promise, the Los Angeles Dodgers have added another page to their ever-growing story of excellence. On a sun-washed Wednesday in May, amid a 27-15 start and postseason aspirations already whispering in the air, they turned the page to a new chapter — one named Dalton Rushing.
The club’s top prospect and one of baseball’s most polished young hitters, Rushing will now step into the spotlight. Not to carry the load, but to learn, to grow, and maybe, to add another spark to a team already burning bright.
Dalton Rushing has been called up by the Dodger per @FabianArdaya.
2025 (AAA): 132 PA, .308/.424/.515, 5 2B, 5 HR, 15.9% BB, 22% K
Rushing is one of the best prospect bats in the game, but his PT situation is cloudy.#LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/EsqDSbmRkb
— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) May 14, 2025
From Prospect to Presence: Rushing’s Ascent
There’s something quiet about greatness in the making. Dalton Rushing didn’t burst onto the scene — he climbed toward it. Drafted in the second round in 2022, Rushing has done what all Dodgers prospects are taught to do: stay steady, stay humble, stay prepared.
At Triple-A this season, he has done more than earn a call-up — he demanded it. Hitting .308 with a .424 OBP and five home runs in 132 plate appearances, Rushing proved he wasn’t just a future piece. He was ready now.
Dalton Rushing said back in Spring that his future role for the Dodgers was to back up Smith.
“From a catching perspective, my job is to step in and make Will’s job easier. Give him a little bit of time. Let him be the player that he is and make a push for the Hall of Fame.” pic.twitter.com/4TXaCR4b7n
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) May 14, 2025
A catcher by trade, Rushing has shown remarkable versatility, logging innings at first base and in the outfield. But his bat is the calling card — a left-handed stroke with compact power, natural lift, and a patience at the plate beyond his years. He doesn’t just swing; he calculates, he waits, and then he punishes.
His arrival comes not as a necessity but as a luxury. And in Los Angeles, those tend to turn into legends.
A Farewell, A Welcome, and a Balancing Act
With every beginning in baseball, there’s an ending. To make room for Rushing, the Dodgers designated longtime veteran Austin Barnes for assignment. The move was more than transactional — it was emotional. Barnes was the longest-tenured position player on the roster, a quiet cornerstone of past Octobers.
The Dodgers, with grace, said goodbye with a message that felt like a thank-you letter — from an organization to a pro who never asked for the spotlight, but always wore the jersey with purpose.
Austin Barnes has been DFA’d by the Dodgers after 11 seasons with the team.
Dalton Rushing has been called up his place.
Barnes, thank you so much for everything 🙏
Via David Vassegh pic.twitter.com/uVMbJYEwKc
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 14, 2025
Now, the baton passes to Rushing, whose opportunity will come in spurts. Will Smith is one of the best catchers in the game, hitting .330 with an on-base percentage north of .420. But Smith also gets more rest than most elite backstops, giving Rushing the runway to work behind the plate.
Expect him also at first base on Freddie Freeman’s off days, or in left field when the Dodgers shuffle their stacked lineup. In a roster defined by its flexibility, Rushing becomes another tool in the toolbox — a hammer when they need one, a glove when they don’t.
The Dodgers didn’t need Rushing. But that’s never stopped them before from making a good team even better.
No Pressure, Only Promise
The beauty of the moment is that there is no rush. Not for Rushing.
The Dodgers don’t need him to hit cleanup. They don’t need him to save a season. They need him to be what he already is: prepared, patient, and poised. That’s how the Dodgers build — not on hype, but on foundation.
Rushing brings more than a polished bat. He brings energy, athleticism, and a presence beyond the numbers. He’s quicker than most catchers. Smarter than most rookies. And already, he’s seasoned from the grind of the minor leagues.
If he finds his rhythm early, he could be another weapon come October — a trusted bat off the bench, a steady presence behind the plate, or maybe more. But even if that doesn’t happen right away, the Dodgers can wait. They’re built to.
Dalton Rushing’s story doesn’t have to be written in a flash. It just has to begin. And now, in Los Angeles, under the lights of Chavez Ravine, it does.
