Rushing (partial UCL tear) unlikely to catch in '26; could return as bench bat

CHICAGO -- The Dodgers' catching situation is in flux after Dalton Rushing underwent an MRI that revealed a slight ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow. The chance of him catching again this year is unlikely, but the team will try to bring him back as a left-handed bench bat before season's end.

"I would say it's very small. I hope I'm wrong," manager Dave Roberts said before Wednesday's series finale against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. "He's a tough kid, and so for him to go through this speaks a lot. … Certainly a possibility with the time, but we're certainly trying to keep the bat alive for sure."

With Will Smith (inflamed disc in neck) two months into an injured list stint of his own, the Dodgers are leaning on Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia -- who were both reacquired ahead of Monday's Trade Deadline -- to be their catching tandem for at least the next several weeks.

The Dodgers first became aware of Rushing's injury when his elbow flared up while he played catch on Sunday, leading to him being scratched from the lineup. He landed on the 10-day IL the following day. He will be shut down from throwing for at least four weeks, and after a period of rest, he'll try to start a hitting progression.

Surgery could be on the table, but for the time being, all parties are open to seeing how Rushing responds to treatment and rest. Once he progresses to the point where he can resume swinging a bat, that will help further inform the decision.

"It's kind of laying all the variables out, and then making a decision," Roberts said. "But I do think that there's really not much cost, outside of two weeks or whatever, to kind of wait and see how he responds to some treatment and some kind of stuff that they decide to do."

Rushing is hitting .253 with an .809 OPS in his second big league season, getting some extended run as the starting catcher in place of Smith. Among catchers who have taken at least 240 plate appearances this season, Rushing's 123 wRC+ ranked fifth.

Smith was having a down season, hitting .249 with a .720 OPS before his injury, but the Dodgers have undoubtedly missed his presence in the lineup and behind the plate. After some setbacks earlier in his rehab, Smith has begun ramping up his baseball activities, although there remains no set timeline for his return. In all likelihood, he will not be back before September.

The Dodgers are hopeful that Rortvedt and Feduccia, who both spent time in the organization previously, can pick up where they left off and step up behind the plate. For Rortvedt in particular, this is a familiar experience, as he stepped into the starting catcher role for most of last September when Smith and Rushing were both sidelined by injuries.

"I think it's just easier to kind of get up to speed faster," Rortvedt said after catching Tarik Skubal's Dodgers debut. "A lot of the guys, I know them. I know what they want to pitch like. A lot of the coaches, I understand their demeanor and understand how they like to go about business around here. It definitely helps."

Rortvedt is poised to get the bulk of starts at catcher for the time being. Feduccia, who was drafted and developed by the Dodgers, will back him up.

Neither Rortvedt nor Feduccia has the offensive upside of Smith or Rushing, but the Dodgers aren't looking for either to provide a spark for the lineup. What they need from their new catching tandem is for both to get up to speed with the pitching staff and hold it down behind the plate.

"With the talent that we have, the offense on their side is a bonus," Roberts said. "We just want those guys to lock in on the run prevention side."