The Los Angeles Dodgers promoted top prospect Dalton Rushing last week as the corresponding move to longtime backup catcher Austin Barnes being designated for assignment.
The decision to move on from Barnes took some by surprise as he was in his 11th season with the Dodgers as their longest-tenured position player. However, Barnes struggled mightily at the plate this year and even so with preventing stolen bases.
Meanwhile, Rushing got off to a tremendous start with Triple-A Oklahoma City and essentially forced the Dodgers’ hand to call him up. “I think it popped up very quickly,” manager Dave Roberts explained.
“We’re always thinking about how we can make our club better, but Austin, he’s been a mainstay for our club for eight years. So it’s certainly not easy, but I think that the performance from Dalton kind of really sped this up.”
Rushing hit .308./.424/.514 with five doubles, five home runs and 17 RBI through 31 games with the Comets before joining the Dodgers. He has always impressed with his bat, but made strides in other areas this season that warranted a call-up.
“You know, he’s certainly very physical,” Roberts began. “The bat has always played, that’s always been his carrying tool. The receiving has gotten much better, the arm strength is there. The relationship with the pitchers has continued to grow. And all the reports that we’ve got on the Triple-A side, just improvement all around.
“And so with the maturity that he has, the performance, we just felt that it was the right time. And unfortunately, we’ve got to move on from a player that’s such a professional like Austin Barnes.”
Dalton made his MLB debut on Thursday and went 2-for-3 in the Dodgers’ 19-2 blowout win over the Athletics. He became the fourth Dodgers rookie to wear an MLB debut patch on his jersey this season.
Dalton Rushing’s role with Dodgers
While primarily starting at catcher for the Comets, Rushing has also played nine games (eight starts) at first base this season, two (one start) in left field and started four games as their designated hitter.
However, the 24-year-old will only serve as the Dodgers’ backup catcher and potentially receive some pinch-hit opportunities as well.
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