Dalton Rushing concerns leave Dodgers with precarious catching situation

On Monday, Dalton Rushing exited the Los Angeles Dodgers' opener against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the third. He took a foul tip directly off his mask on the very first pitch of the game but remained in for a couple more innings.

The Dodgers were quick to share that his removal was precautionary and Rushing passed his first round of concussion testing. But Dave Roberts said he would have to undergo a second round of tests on Tuesday and is likely to remain out of the lineup.

Rushing himself didn't exactly provide any reassurance after the game. "It was the first pitch of the game, got me square on the top of the head," he said. "My brain was just pounding for the next couple innings and even through that first at-bat — it was a one-pitch at-bat — but as bad as it sounds, I was looking for a strike today because it wasn't comfortable."

Chuckie Robinson replaced Rushing in the lineup and behind the plate and proceeded to strike out twice in three at-bats. Robinson still has yet to record a hit in five games as Dodger between 2025 and 2026.

With Will Smith already on the IL and not expected to be back until July, the Dodgers can't really afford to lose Rushing right now given how nonexistent LA's catching depth is. Unfortunately, it looks like they might have to stick it out with Robinson for a little while.

Dodgers could lose Dalton Rushing after he exited Monday's game vs. Twins

Dodgers fans got a little taste of this last September, when Smith and Rushing both got hurt within a matter of days, but LA had veteran catching depth to turn to. Ben Rortvedt, who came over in the Dodgers-Reds-Rays trade, became something of a Dodgers legend overnight.

Glowing reviews from Dodgers pitchers, and Rortvedt turning into a productive hitter out of nowhere, led to some speculation that he could stick around and allow the Dodgers to trade Rushing. But Rortvedt just ended up riding the DFA rollercoaster all offseason. The Dodgers briefly reclaimed him in February, only to let him go five days later. The Mets picked him up, and he's been in Triple-A Syracuse ever since.

The Dodgers have veteran farmhand Eliezer Alfonzo stashed in Triple-A, but there are no promises that he'll be any better than Robinson.

Rushing's status will become clearer over the next few days, but if he does go the way of the IL, the Dodgers are either going to have to move fast to find some backup, or deal with starting a backup-backup catcher until either Rushing or Smith return.

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