Dalton Rushing was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft and he has continued to rise up prospect boards after an excellent start to his 2024 season.
Through 56 games for Double-A Tulsa, Rushing is hitting .261/.376/.473 with 11 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 42 RBI in 203 at-bats.
The 23-year-old had one of his best performances of the season last month when he went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and career-high-tying five RBI in the Drillers’ 12-3 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Rushing said he doesn’t usually focus on his numbers, but wants to eventually record a 100-RBI season, via Kenny Van Doren of MLB.com:
“Before every year, a lot of people ask me what my goals are,” the Louisville product said. “Me personally, I’ve never really set a number on average, a number on homers. Obviously, I have a number that I’m going for through a full season, but it’s not really a goal for me. The only goal that I really set is to see if I can get to triple digits in RBIs, and that’s something that I really take pride in.”
Rushing enters play Friday on pace to drive in 104 RBI this season. Even with the jump to Double-A and having to split starts at catcher with Diego Cartaya, he has maintained elite production while sporting an impressive 51-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Rushing set a career high with 53 RBI last season and had 62 during his final season at the University of Louisville in 2022.
Will Dalton Rushing stick at catcher?
Some scouts have questioned whether Rushing will be able to stick at catcher, but his offensive potential should help him get plenty of playing time when he is called up to the Majors.
With Will Smith locked in as the Dodgers catcher of the future, Rushing could be a candidate to move to first base, third base or even a corner outfield spot.
He could also be trade bait for that very reason with Smith locked in at catcher for the foreseeable future, and the Dodgers have a few encouraging catching prospects in their system.
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