Los Angeles Dodgers backstop Dalton Rushing has struggled in All-Star catcher Will Smith’s absence. Rushing grabbed headlines last week after his pitch calling left Shohei Ohtani frustrated.
Amid his on-field controversies this season, Rushing participated in the LADF’s LA Reads project this week. He read to the youths from the Dodgers Dreamteam and sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with the kids.
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MLB fans reacted to the Dodgers catcher’s off-field activity.
“A rookie catcher having to go on a PR tour is craaazy.”
“Ohtani making him perform community service for his outburst.”
“The devil works hard but the Dodgers PR is working harder.”
“Dodgers PR working OT trying to make this guy seem endearing.”
“I see the Dodgers are getting their public relations department to work on Daltons image.”
Rushing has been the Dodgers’ primary catcher in the absence of Smith due to a neck injury. However, Rushing has not been convincing behind the plate in his starts over the last few weeks.
Dalton Rushing to catch Shohei Ohtani’s latest start after last week’s controversy
Although Dalton Rushing and Shohei Ohtani weren’t on the same page during the two-way phenom’s last start against the Minnesota Twins, Rushing will be behind the plate for Ohtani’s start on Friday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects Ohtani and Rushing to be on the same page after last week’s controversial interaction.
“I think they will be,” Roberts said. “I think they will be more than they were his last start. They don’t think the same, so it takes time. But Dalton understands that this is what he signed up for. The job of a catcher is to be a servant to the pitcher. That’s the bottom line.”
Ohtani, who is amid a Cy Young-caliber season, has a 4.34 ERA in three starts pitching to Rushing. The four-time MVP has a solid 0.74 ERA with Will Smith behind the plate.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
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