The Los Angeles Dodgers placed catcher and designated hitter Dalton Rushing back on the injured list just days after activating him Sunday.
Rushing had spent a month on the injured list before the Dodgers reinstated him Sept. 1, as a partial tear in his UCL restricted him from playing catcher. He came back strictly as a hitter, though the Dodgers scratched him before Saturday’s win against the Washington Nationals.
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Rushing threw before the game as a part of his progression, though it seems it didn’t go well.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled Eliezer Alfonzo from Triple-A.
How Did Dalton Rushing Perform After His Return?
Rushing participated in four games after his return, logging just four at-bats without registering a hit. He reached base via hit by pitch in the Dodgers’ loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Prior to his initial injury, Rushing was in the midst of a breakout year for the Dodgers. He had a 123 wRC+ through his 74 games, hitting 12 homers and driving in 37 runs while posting a .809 OPS. The left-handed bat had an unreal start to the season, hitting seven homers and posting a 1.284 OPS through April.
He took over as the Dodgers starter following Will Smith’s neck injury, giving him a real shot as the starting catcher up until his unfortunate move to the IL.
Why Did the Dodgers Recall Eliezer Alfonzo?
Alfonzo is a catcher, making him the third stringer on the Dodgers’ roster with Smith and Hunter Feduccia both healthy. Alfonzo already had a 40-man roster spot, and is one of just three position players with that designation—the other choices being Hyeseong Kim and Ryan Ward.
Alfonzo is a switch hitter, which gives the Dodgers a little more lineup depth late in games when they need a favorable matchup. Alfonzo spent a month with the big league club earlier in the season, playing in 12 games and posting a .444 OPS.
The Dodgers will look to get him some time in Sunday’s game against the Nationals, which begins at 7:10 p.m. PT.
