Catcher Dalton Rushing, who was bouncing from minor arm irritation to elbow inflammation, just hit a major snag: he’s officially sidelined with a “slightly torn” ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the bad news to reporters Tuesday night after MRI results from Monday sealed the deal at Wrigley Field. This isn’t just a day-to-day thing; Rushing is out for at least a month, minimum, which is a total gut punch for the Dodgers.
The Elbow Just Blew Up the Dodgers’ Plans
When we say “slightly torn,” don’t let that fool you. This is a big deal, way more than just a tweak. Roberts confirmed Rushing can stay on a hitting program, which is something, I guess. But the crucial part? He’s completely shut down from throwing for a brutal four to six weeks. Think about that for a second: a catcher who can’t throw. That kind of timeline throws Rushing’s status as a legit catching option for the entire stretch run of the year, and even what they’ll do in the playoffs, into massive doubt. Roberts didn’t mince words either, admitting he doesn’t “know what that looks like for the rest of the season and throughout the postseason.” What a nightmare for them! Roberts also pointed out, almost too perfectly, that “Fortunately, it happened the day before the trade deadline. So… today we’re looking at two new catchers.” Yeah, because what else are you gonna do?
The Catching Situation Just Got Wild
And Rushing’s injury is just one piece of this chaotic puzzle. Their main guy, Will Smith, is already on the shelf, needing at least another three to four weeks before he can even think about returning from a neck injury. So, you got one catcher out for a month-plus, another for a few weeks, and suddenly the Dodgers’ entire catching corps is in the hands of Ben Rortvedt and David Feduccia. These aren’t just random dudes; both are former Dodgers who were literally scooped up on Monday, right before the trade deadline slammed shut. Both of them got activated on Tuesday, with Rortvedt immediately jumping in to start behind the plate for Tarik Skubal’s debut. Feduccia wasn’t far behind, catching Eric Lauer for Wednesday’s series finale in Chicago. Talk about a baptism by fire, huh?
Last Year’s Rerun, This Year’s Crisis
Honestly, if this sounds familiar, it’s because it totally is. This whole mess is giving off serious last September vibes. Back then, Smith was out with a hand injury, and Rushing hurt his shin. Guess who stepped up? Ben Rortvedt! He went from practically obscurity to starting 19 out of 25 games, even catching four postseason games before Smith finally returned. Now, here we are again: Rortvedt and Feduccia are the guys, holding down the fort for the foreseeable future, potentially until Smith can maybe return in late August or September. This is a massive challenge for a team that has huge expectations. It’s early season, sure, but how they navigate this catching crisis could absolutely define their entire year. Stay tuned, because this is gonna be a wild ride for them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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