Dalton Rushing is finally emerging as the trade chip Dodgers fans envisioned for years

The Dodgers made an unorthodox choice on Wednesday night, for their series finale against the Mets on Jackie Robinson Day. Shohei Ohtani was LA's starting pitcher, but he was not in the lineup as their DH after getting hit by a pitch in the opener. Dalton Rushing got the first DH appearance of his major league career in Ohtani's place.

Ohtani pitched a six-inning, one-run, 10-strikeout start in the Dodgers' eventual 8-2 win over the Mets to complete a sweep. Four of LA's runs came off of one swing.

Rushing had opened his game with a double and scored one batter later on a Hyeseong Kim homer. He struck out his next two times up, but in the bottom of eighth, with one-time Dodgers target Devin Williams on the mound and the bases loaded with no outs, Rushing unleashed. He took a first-pitch changeup deep to center field — 412 feet — for a grand slam.

After the game, which later featured Kyle Tucker's second homer of the year, Ohtani said the Dodgers "have a great DH." Rushing shared what Ohtani had asked of him prior to first pitch: "He told me to hit a homer for him."

Dalton Rushing hits his first career grand slam as Dodgers' one-off DH

We'll give it to Dave Roberts: this was a very creative way to get Rushing the at-bats the Dodgers have been trying and failing to find for him outside of his role as backup catcher. While it seems unlikely that this will become a regular occurrence, even when Ohtani is on the mound, it doesn't seem like it would be the worst thing in the world if it did.

Rushing's bat is finally waking up to a point fitting of a former No. 1 prospect. He's adjusting to the irregularity of his playing time and making the most of his at-bats.

It'll make it all the easier for the Dodgers to trade him.

The Dodgers could get away with having a backup catcher who would be any other team's starting catcher forever (or as long as Rushing is still under team control), but for all of their insistence that they have no interest in trading Rushing, he may be far more valuable to them as a trade piece.

For now, we'll just be happy for the kid. After a rocky rookie season, it's all coming together for him.

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