Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Dalton Rushing was ranked the second-best catcher by MLB Pipeline heading into the 2025 season.
Rushing was previously rated as high as No. 5 in 2022. He ranked as the sixth-best catching prospect heading into the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Baltimore Orioles prospect Samuel Basallo topped the rankings of Minor League catchers.
The rest of the top 10 consists of Kyle Teel (No. 3; Chicago White Sox), Ethan Salas (San Diego Padres), Jeferson Quero (Milwaukee Brewers), Blake Mitchell (Kansas City Royals), Drake Baldwin (Atlanta Braves), Harry Ford (Seattle Mariners), Edgar Quero (White Sox) and Moises Ballesteros (Chicago Cubs).
Rushing began the 2024 season with Double-A Tulsa and hit .270/.378/.512 with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 59 RBI over 77 games.
The 23-year-old was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City last August and batted .269/.392/.477 with six doubles, seven home runs and 23 RBI.
Along with maintaining his offensive production at the Triple-A level, Rushing adjusted well to learning how to play left field in an effort to increase his versatility.
He hit a combined .270/.383/.501 with 21 doubles, 24 home runs and 82 RBI across 112 games en route to being named 2024 Branch Rickey Player of the Year within the Dodgers organization.
As Rushing gets set to enter his fourth season, the expectation is that he will continue receiving most of his opportunities at catcher.
Dodgers confident in Dalton Rushing’s hitting ability
Already having Will Smith cemented as their long-term catcher at the big league level, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said the organization believes in what Rushing provides offensively, regardless of the position he plays.
For his part, Rushing has expressed a willingness to play any position the Dodgers ask of him. Rushing is likely to make his MLB debut during the 2025 season.
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