Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing has taken responsibility for a recent on-field miscommunication with teammate Shohei Ohtani, stating his priority is to ensure the star pitcher feels supported. The incident occurred during a game against the Minnesota Twins, where a series of perceived pitch-calling issues and visible frustration from Rushing appeared to disrupt Ohtani's outing.
Rushing acknowledged that he failed in his primary role during a challenging three-run second inning, saying, "You never want to have a pitcher feel like you don’t have their back." He reflected on the moments where he wished things had gone differently, including a lack of synergy on pitch calls and a passed ball that resulted in a run. Most notably, Rushing admitted his outward frustration seemed directed at Ohtani, a reaction he now regrets.
"It’s not at all how we want to be viewed as battery mates," Rushing said. "Whether it’s Shohei, whether it’s any of our starting pitchers, any of the guys in the bullpen, you never want to be viewed like that."
While the Dodgers ultimately came back to win the game, with Ohtani reverting to calling his own pitches for the remainder of his start, the second inning was described as "complete chaos" by first baseman Freddie Freeman. Rushing, speaking on Sunday, emphasized the need to move forward and learn from the situation.
"Look, he’s the greatest player to play this game," Rushing said of Ohtani. "And he has every right to, one, call whatever he would like, and two, just attack the way that he wants to on the mound. Because no one on this earth can tell him that he doesn’t know what he’s doing out there."
Rushing recounted that the disconnect initially surfaced in the first inning when Ohtani expressed "hesitation" with the pitches Rushing was calling. The situation escalated in the second inning, with Rushing catching Ohtani for only the third time that season due to an injury to regular catcher Will Smith.
Despite the visible frustration from both players, including Ohtani emphatically questioning calls, manager Dave Roberts noted that "both guys were frustrated trying to get on the same page." After the game, Rushing received counsel from Roberts and Freeman, who urged him to move past the frustration.
Pitching coach Mark Prior stated that conversations were held between coaches and the players, emphasizing that Rushing "cares deeply about his pitchers." Prior added, "The other day, it was an unfortunate experience that played out for everybody. Nobody is gonna shy away from that. But also, you take those moments and you learn from them and hopefully you’re better off moving forward because of it."
Rushing expressed a desire to mature in "heat-of-the-moment" situations and better manage his emotions. He has previously expressed frustration with the "negative" attention his emotional outbursts have drawn on social media. Rushing attributed some of this heightened intensity to the pressure of playing alongside numerous All-Stars and MVPs on the Dodgers roster.
Freeman defended Rushing, highlighting his passion and energy, and expressing confidence in his ability to grow. "He’s young. He’s been thrown into the biggest of spotlights. But he’s gonna be fine," Freeman said.
Roberts indicated that Rushing is "likely" to catch Ohtani again in his next start, expressing confidence that "going forward we’ll all be on the same page." Ohtani has not spoken to reporters since the incident, but Rushing insisted there were "no hard feelings on either end." The catcher noted that Ohtani greeted him with a high-five and a smile after Rushing hit a home run later in the series.
"It’s my job, whether I’m 25 years old or 35 years old, to say, ‘Look, I’m wearing this, this is my fault. I need to move forward. I need to grow from this,’" Rushing said. "And I need to make sure we bring good out of this."