The Los Angeles Dodgers have an interesting dynamic heading into the 2025 season, as their outfield group is a bit different from their World Series run.
Signing Michael Conforto added a left-handed bat to the mix, with the upside to play every day. Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Teoscar Hernández worked through an impasse in negotiations to agree to a three-year, $66 million contract that includes a signing bonus, team option for 2028 and deferred salary.
Also potentially part of the outfield picture is Dodgers prospect Dalton Rushing, who is expected to make his MLB debut in 2025. Drafted and rising through the farm system as a catcher, the Dodgers began giving Rushing opportunities in left field with Double-A Tulsa and exclusively for Triple-A Oklahoma City this past season.
Already having Will Smith cemented as their mainstay behind the plate 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, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com:
“We’re fortunate enough that he’s a good enough athlete that he can kick to left, he can kick to first if needed. We can continue to see how that plays out,” Gomes said. “But the focus is always: How is he progressing as a catcher? And the rest of it will kind of be secondary, and then the bat — if he continues to hit, then we find ways to get him onto the team, into the lineup at some point down the road.”
Playing a combined 278.1 innings in left field in 2024, Rushing is athletic enough to man the position at the big league level. The nuance with reading fly balls, positioning and all that comes with it will improve over time.
Starting the season with the Drillers, Rushing posting an .890 on-base plus slugging percentage with 17 home runs, 59 RBI and 38 walks. Over 37 games with Oklahoma City, Rushing batted .273/.396/.511 with 15 extra-base hits, nine of which being homers.
Outlook for Dalton Rushing in 2025
Barring a trade before the season beginning, Rushing should crack the Dodgers’ roster because of how much of a handle he’s had on pitching at two levels of Minor League pitching.
Rushing fills a need that the Dodgers lack in being under team control for several years and with high-end upside offensive ability. Rushing’s power swing could carry him to a prominent spot in the lineup, and having a 15.4% walk rate with a 20.1 % strikeout rate is a recipe that gives the team confidence he can handle the jump.
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