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Dalton Rushing Replaced After Being Hit With Foul Tip
Los Angeles Dodgers backup catcher Dalton Rushing left Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, making room for backup Chuckie Robinson.
The Dodgers revealed Rushing is in concussion protocol after a foul tip caught the crown of his helmet in the first inning. Rushing is the second Dodger to leave the game early, as LA removed Kyle Tucker in the second inning due to low back spasms.
Rushing’s potential injury is an issue for the Dodgers, as they have just one catcher on the active roster—Robinson—without him. Will Smith has taken on the lion’s share of catching duties this season, but has been on the injured list since June 11 with neck inflammation.
Rushing has been stellar in the backup role for the Dodgers this season, especially towards the beginning of the year. His OPS sat well above 1.000 for the entirety of April, and while he’s cooled off a little bit since, he has still been solid on offense. The former No. 1 prospect in the organization has eight homers on the year, tallying 22 RBIs in the process. He has a .821 OPS.
Who Would Take Dalton Rushing’s Spot on the Roster?
If Rushing went down with injury, the Dodgers will more than likely bring up Triple-A catcher Eliezer Alfonzo.
Alfonzo, 26, signed with the Dodgers on a minor league deal after the end of the 2025 season, and has been solid for the Comets during his stay in Triple-A. Through 42 games this season, Alfonzo has one homer and 15 RBIs, posting a .306/.395/.410 slash line for an .805 OPS.
The catcher spent all of his professional career prior to now in the Detroit Tigers’ organization, but never made an appearance in MLB.
Griffin Lockwood-Powell is the backup catcher in Triple-A, but has only played three games at the level and is unlikely to be brought up over Alfonzo.
The Dodgers could also scour the waiver wire for a catcher, but the last catcher to be designated for assignment—the Atlanta Braves’ Sandy Leon—has already re-signed with the club on a minor league deal.
LA will hope it doesn’t come to that, though, as they need as many of their key pieces as possible to put together a championship season.
