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Dalton Rushing joins 'Baseball Bar-B-Cast' to talk the art of hitting, being on the Dodgers and more
On the latest episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast,” Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing joined hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman to talk about the art of hitting, what it’s like being part of the Dodgers and more.
Below are some of the highlights. For the full conversation with Rushing, check out the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
On the art of hitting
Shusterman noted that while Rushing is a catcher, hitting has long been his main focus. Through 10 plate appearances in 2026, the 27-year-old is batting .667 with a 2.367 OPS. Shusterman asked him to explain his approach to hitting and what makes hitting an art form.
“I think it comes when I get to the point where I’m trying to play the game a little bit with the pitcher, and I’m understanding their moves before they understand what they’re trying to do,” Rushing said.
“Hitting is not just having a great swing. … Understanding the art of hitting and being able to pick a pitcher apart before he beats you, I think you get get so much satisfaction as a baseball player from it. And there’s really no better feeling.”
On how his preparation is different at the big-league level
The hosts discussed with Rushing the vast amount of information available to big-league hitters today — “we know what color socks each guy is wearing every day,” Rushing quipped — and how that varies from high school and the lower levels of the minor leagues.
“You know what the guy throws. That’s really it [at lower levels],” Rushing noted. At the same time, he said his approach these days is not all the different.
“I’ve always taken pride in my plate discipline. So before I take an at-bat, let’s say I’m facing a lefty that throws 88 when I’m a junior in high school. Well, one, I need to know what he’s throwing, what kind of pitches does he throw? And then I just play in my head, like, ‘What’s the shape? Where do I need to hunt this pitch in order to one, not chase, but two, give myself a chance to do damage?’
“And that’s kind of similar to what what I do now. … I try and match up a plan to give myself the best chance to do two things. Don’t swing at pitches out of the zone and don’t miss pitches in the heart of the plate. That’s my whole game plan.”
On the unique pressure of catching for the Dodgers
“The standard for you guys is on a different level,” Mintz observed of Rushing’s role as a young catcher working with the Dodgers’ elite rotation.
“It’s not even close, and I don’t think people from the outside looking in really even comprehend the difference,” Rushing agreed.
“I strike out on four pitches … and I have to turn around and go catch the greatest left-handed pitcher of all time. And if I miss one pitch call, I might be going back to Oklahoma City. That’s pressure.”
Rushing also noted that the high-stakes dynamic of the Dodgers is different for catchers.
“The game is so much bigger when you’re in the squat than when you’re standing in the box, especially for a team like this,” he said. “We are rolling out Cy Young after Cy Young, MVP after MVP, the greatest player to ever play the game today.
“I think last year was a huge testament to me learning and understanding what it means to be a big-league catcher. … and not just a big-league catcher. Be a catcher with the Dodgers, with a team like this.”
On being drafted by the best organization in baseball
Rushing was drafted by the Dodgers in 2022. At that point, the team had won a World Series in 2020 and was considered a top organization in the sport. But since then, as Shusterman noted, the Dodgers have elevated even further. He asked Rushing to reflect on how he felt about being part of the team then vs. now.
“At first, it was like, all right, Los Angeles? … I had mixed feelings,” Rushing said. “I’m not a West Coast kid. I’m from a small town in Tennessee. So it was a little different.
“But getting here and understanding … how much the city cares about winning. There’s nothing like it.”
Just as important to Rushing is being part of the organization as a whole.
“It’s the best organization in baseball,” he said. “They say, ‘All right, wer’e going to build a dynasty.’ We’re going to do it, and I get to be a part of it. …
“As long as baseball allows us to be this team. we’re going to be this team. And it’s a blessing. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I want to win as many games as possible. That’s my whole goal, and I think we’re going to do plenty of that over the next eight to 10 years.”
