Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing Compared to 15-Year Veteran All-Star Catcher
Before there was Roki Sasaki, catcher and outfielder Dalton Rushing was the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top prospect.
Rushing, who was named the Dodgers’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2024, is projected to make his MLB debut this season. Rushing is primarily a catcher but moved to the outfield for the first time in his career in 2024.
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After the Dodgers promoted Rushing to Triple-A in late October, the 23-year-old made 27 of his 31 career starts at left field. With catcher Austin Barnes fulfilling the backup catcher role for the Dodgers, Rushing will likely serve as a designated hitter, first baseman, or outfielder for Los Angeles.
Barnes is in the final year of his contract with Los Angeles. Therefore, Rushing could claim the backup catcher role while also filling in at other positions throughout the 2026 season.
The No. 30 MLB prospect’s powerful bat and defensive prowess compares to 15-season MLB veteran Carlos Santana, according to MLB insider Kiley McDaniel.
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Similar to Rushing, Santana was a catcher early in his career. But, the 2024 AL Gold Glove first baseman has not played as a backstop since 2014 with the now-Cleveland Guardians.
Santana also earned his first AL Silver Slugger and All-Star recognition in 2019 after hitting a career-high 34 home runs. Despite nearing the end of his career, Santana still ranks within the top 25 of several AL batting categories, including home runs (23) and on-base percentage (.328) in 2024.
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Including Rushing, the Dodgers boast six of MLB’s top 100 prospects. The Dodgers invited Rushing as a non-roster player to Spring Training, where he will fight to earn a roster spot.
Photo Credit: BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
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