nypost
Shohei Ohtani managed to avoid surgery following an injury-marred 2026 campaign, but fellow Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing was not as fortunate. Rushing was scheduled to undergo an internal brace procedure on Wednesday to repair a damaged ligament in his right throwing elbow, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.
The operation carries a nine-month recovery timeline before Rushing can resume full catching duties, as the Los Angeles Times first reported. However, there is optimism that he could be available as a hitter by the beginning of next season.
Rushing originally injured his elbow in early August while playing catch in the outfield before a game. He spent the majority of the final two months of the regular season on the injured list, returning for just six days in early September before suffering a setback in his throwing progression. He was eventually activated for hitting-only duties during the final week of the regular season.
Despite being healthy enough to hit, Rushing was not included on the team's postseason roster. Instead, rookie sensation Josue De Paula was chosen as the club's left-handed bench bat in October.
Now, more uncertainty looms for Rushing, who is two years removed from his debut as one of the organization's top prospects. Despite making strides in his second MLB season—batting .246 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 80 games, including an extended stint in June and July as the fill-in starter behind the plate during Will Smith's neck injury—his place in the team's long-term plans remains unclear.
Rushing's surgery likely opens a pathway for Hunter Feduccia to begin next season in the backup catcher role, where he impressed as Rushing's replacement down the stretch this year. Where Rushing will fit into the early-season roster is unknown. Though he could still offer an option off the bench with his bat, there might be few opportunities for regular playing time with Shohei Ohtani entrenched as the designated hitter and Freddie Freeman at first base.
It's all just another setback for the 25-year-old slugger, who has yet to truly flourish at the big-league level.
Key Analysis
Rushing's injury and subsequent surgery create a ripple effect on the Dodgers' roster composition. With Feduccia poised to take over backup catching duties, Rushing's path to playing time becomes even more obstructed by the presence of Ohtani and Freeman. The young catcher's future with the club is now clouded, and his ability to contribute as a hitter may be his only avenue to regular at-bats in 2027.
Originally reported by nypost.