Dalton

Rushing

The 25-year-old isn’t expected to catch again this season, but he will be able to function as a bench bat for the Dodgers over the final weekend of the regular season and into the playoffs. Rushing has been shelved since September 5 due to discomfort in his throwing elbow.

Rushing’s elbow responded badly to a throwing session Saturday, and the Dodgers aren’t going to let him push it again. He still might return as a bench bat before the end of the season.

Rushing had a setback with the elbow while throwing prior to Saturday’s game. Eliezer Alfonzo was called up to replace hm, but Hunter Feduccia figures to continue to serve as the primary backup to Will Smith.

Rushing was scratched from the team’s starting lineup on Saturday after experiencing soreness in his elbow while ramping up his throwing program before the game. He went for imaging after the game and depending on what that shows, a trip to the injured list could be in store.

Rushing was ramping up his throwing program on the field before the game and felt a bit sore, so the Dodgers opted to give him the night off rather than have him serve as the designated hitter. Alex Call replaced him in the lineup and will start in left field while Teoscar Hernandez functions as the designated hitter.

Rushing’s sudden return after a month-long absence due to a UCL tear is quite a surprise. He didn’t play in any rehab games, and since his elbow remains an issue, it’s unclear if he’ll be doing any catching this month. One imagines he’ll primary be a left-handed pinch-hitter for now.

The fact that Rushing has progressed enough to be facing live pitching likely means that a rehab assignment is on the horizon for some point next week. The Dodgers have been patchworking their catching situation while Rushing and Will Smith have been sidelined.

Rushing added that he doesn’t have a return timetable yet, but has already progressed to swinging a bat, and is optimistic he’ll be able to resume catching before the end of the season. The 25-year-old former top prospect was diagnosed with a UCL tear in his throwing elbow earlier this month. His return would help shore up Los Angeles’ catching situation heading into the postseason.

This helps explain why the Dodgers went out and acquired both Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt at the trade deadline to fortify their catching situation until Will Smith (neck) is back from the injured list. The hope is that Rushing can avoid season-ending surgery, but he’s probably going to be limited to hitting-only, if that’s the route they choose. He’ll be shut down completely for a couple weeks before the Dodgers determine his next steps.

No surprise after Rushing was scratched from Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox. It certainly explains why the Dodgers went out and acquired both Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia at the trade deadline. They’ll need to cobble things together behind the plate until Will Smith (neck) is ready to return in a couple weeks.