After struggling in limited action last year, Dalton Rushing has bounced back with a breakout season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 25-year-old enters play on Wednesday hitting .286/.365/.552 with four doubles, eight home runs and 21 RBI in only 36 games as the team’s backup catcher.
Rushing has also provided value with his Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenges. He is 11-for-18 (61%) when challenging calls behind the plate and 1-for-3 (33%) as a batter.
“You know, he’s much better behind the plate,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joked, “which makes more sense, though.
“It makes more sense because you are receiving the ball and some hitters lose it in the midst of traveling the hitting zone. But he’s got some very good challenges for us, behind the plate.”
The Dodgers don’t have a specific strategy with challenging balls and strikes, but they try to save most of their attempts for late-game situations.
“You don’t want to exhaust them too early,” Roberts began. “But if it’s a leverage spot, and it’s worth it, we’re always kind of talking about, educating our guys on what’s leverage, what’s not.
“And we have a post mortem, should we have done it there, should we not have? All that kind of stuff. So those conversations are good, but there’s no one way to do it.”
The Dodgers struggled as a team with ABS challenges during Spring Training, but have shown improvement through the first two-plus months of the regular season. They have won 73 of their 125 challenges (48%), which places them sixth overall in MLB.
Dave Roberts fond of ABS challenge system
There was initial skepticism about how the ABS challenge system would work in MLB, but many players, coaches and fans have warmed up to the technology. That includes Roberts, who believes it has been a great addition to the sport.
“I’m a huge proponent of it,” the Dodgers skipper said. “Nothing really. I think that people value them. Some teams certainly are more liberal using them than other teams. I think we’re probably on the more conservative side.
“I think both our catchers have done a great job. I think it’s pretty quick making the decisions. I think the fans enjoy it. So it’s been a good add for our game.”
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