Rushing, formerly the Dodgers’ No. 1 pick, made his debut for LA in 2025 but spent nearly all of his time last season as a backup to All-Star Will Smith. Chen revealed that the 24-year-old could make his first appearance in 2026, but that depends on whether Freeman takes more days off.
“Rushing should get some time initially alongside supporting Will Smith,” Chen wrote. “The question is how many days Freeman will actually take off, as he prefers to play as much as possible.”
Freeman has played 100 or more games in 14 of his 16 MLB seasons, with the exceptions of 2010 – when he fell short of his rookie limits with the Atlanta Braves – and the shortened 2020 season. He had 147 appearances in each of the past two seasons and missed a total of seven games in the three previous seasons.
If Freeman clears more time than usual in 2026, Rushing could get the regular reps he craves in 2025.
How did Dalton Rushing perform in 2025?
Rushing entered the major leagues on May 14 and made his debut the next day. He had a solid debut, going 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs to start his career.
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He continued to start here and there, but finished the season with only 58 games. He was given a chance to step into the starting role in early September after Smith went on the injured list, but Rushing went down with an injury shortly after.
The catcher batted .204 last season, hit four home runs and had 24 RBIs. He had a .582 OPS in 142 at-bats.
His best stretch in 2025 came in the final month of the regular season, when he hit .286 and had a .774 OPS through 11 games.
Has Dalton Rushing played first base before?
Rushing played in eight games for the Dodgers at first base last season, starting only one. During 28 innings at this position, he achieved a perfect fielding percentage.
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He also had some experience playing first in the minors, playing 305 innings in 38 appearances at various levels. He has a .977 fielding percentage in those appearances, most of which come in 2023 with High-A Great Lakes.
Rushing’s performances in the MLB thus far haven’t blown anyone away, but a few more opportunities could very well turn things around for the young catcher. Can he take up the challenge?
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