The Los Angeles Dodgers are an organization that strives for excellence in all facets of the game, and those values are spread throughout, including their farm system and player development.
The Dodgers have been a model across Major League Baseball in how to draft, develop, acquire and figure out what is best for a player’s performance. That sustainability has allowed them to build a consistent winner while churning out top prospects.
One of those is Dalton Rushing, the current No. 1 Dodgers prospect. The 23-year-old started the 2024 season with Double-A Tulsa before receiving a call-up to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
A catcher by trade, Rushing spent the majority of his time with OKC in left field. To his own admission, he approaches it with the understanding that being versatile is what it takes to play for a team like the Dodgers, per Kenny Van Doren of MLB.com:
“Being in an organization like the Dodgers, there’s not always an open spot,” Rushing said. “You kind of got to trickle your way in as well as you can and do whatever you got to do to get there.”
During his time with Oklahoma City, Rushing hit .273/.396/.511 with six doubles, nine home runs, 26 RBI and 26 walks over 169 plate appearances.
The Dodgers believe in the hit tool that Rushing possesses, and with a potential opening in the outfield, they saw a need to move their best hitting prospect into a position he could see at the big league level.
Will Dalton Rushing make MLB debut in 2025?
The Dodgers entered the offseason with multiple needs in their outfield and have thus far only signed Michael Conforto. They remain in talks with Teosar Hernández, but his return is not guaranteed.
Rushing played 243.1 innings in left field with OKC in 2024, committing just one error. His left-handed bat has a lot of power in it and he could end up being an impact player.
Although a platoon isn’t the ideal role, the Dodgers could ease him into full-time action if Rushing establishes himself as a presence early on. If Rushing isn’t on the Opening Day roster, he’ll see big league action at some point in the 2024 season.
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