Dalton Rushing Discusses Hitting and Life with the Dodgers on ‘Baseball Bar-B-Cast’

In a captivating episode of “Baseball Bar-B-Cast,” Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing sat down with hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman to delve into the nuances of hitting, the pressures of playing for the Dodgers, and the unique dynamics of being a catcher in a high-stakes environment.

Rushing, who has made an impressive start to the 2026 season with a .667 batting average and a staggering 2.367 OPS in just 10 plate appearances, emphasized that hitting transcends just having a great swing. “I think it comes when I get to the point where I’m trying to play the game a little bit with the pitcher, and I’m understanding their moves before they understand what they’re trying to do,” he explained. This cerebral approach to hitting is what Rushing believes sets him apart as a player.

The conversation took an interesting turn as Rushing joked about the wealth of information available to modern hitters, saying, “We know what color socks each guy is wearing every day.” He contrasted this with the simplicity of scouting at lower levels, where the focus tends to be on basic pitch types. Rushing reflected on his own growth, sharing, “I’ve always taken pride in my plate discipline… I try and match up a plan to give myself the best chance to do two things: don’t swing at pitches out of the zone and don’t miss pitches in the heart of the plate.” This disciplined mindset is a crucial part of his game plan.

Mintz highlighted the challenges Rushing faces as a young catcher working with the Dodgers’ elite pitching staff. Rushing acknowledged the pressure, stating, “I strike out on four pitches … and I have to turn around and go catch the greatest left-handed pitcher of all time. And if I miss one pitch call, I might be going back to Oklahoma City. That’s pressure.” He elaborated on the distinct pressures catchers face, especially in a high-caliber team like the Dodgers, where the stakes are significantly heightened.

Reflecting on his journey since being drafted by the Dodgers in 2022, Rushing shared his initial mixed feelings about joining the team. “At first, it was like, all right, Los Angeles? … I had mixed feelings,” he said, admitting that coming from a small town in Tennessee made the transition challenging. However, he quickly grew to appreciate the city’s passion for winning, noting, “There’s nothing like it.” Rushing expressed his pride in being part of what he believes to be the best organization in baseball, stating, “They say, ‘All right, we’re going to build a dynasty.’ We’re going to do it, and I get to be a part of it.” With aspirations for sustained success, he concluded, “I want to win as many games as possible. That’s my whole goal, and I think we’re going to do plenty of that over the next eight to 10 years.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.