Los Angeles Dodgers stars Max Muncy and Mookie Betts have addressed a recent on-field exchange between teammates Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing, describing it as a valuable moment for growth. The incident occurred during a June 25 game against the Minnesota Twins.
During an appearance on Betts' "On Base" podcast on July 2, both players shared their perspectives on the interaction. Ohtani had expressed dissatisfaction with Rushing following a passed ball, leading to a discussion on the mound about pitch selection. "I think it’s a good growing moment for both guys," Muncy said. "Sho’s not always gonna be able to throw to Will [Smith], and this is one of those where it was like, hey, sometimes Sho wants to throw a pitch that maybe isn’t the best pitch to throw. You learn how to deal with that the more you’ve been in those types of situations."
This situation arose partly because Ohtani has been pitching to Rushing, a catcher who has primarily been behind the plate for other pitchers, while regular catcher Will Smith is sidelined with a neck injury. "Everybody kind of saw it. When they go down… I saw really just seeing how this was gonna play out, what was possibly gonna be said," Betts recounted, referring to him and Muncy observing the situation from the clubhouse.
Betts also highlighted Rushing's subsequent response. "What I really enjoyed was how Rush later on took accountability. He knows that he has a lot on his plate," Betts stated. Muncy echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the pressure on Rushing, especially given the Dodgers' pitching staff's strong performance. "You’re the catcher for a staff that’s first in baseball in a lot of categories," Muncy remarked with a laugh. "So yeah, that’s a lot on your plate. And he has done an amazing job handling it. Not one of us knew how to handle that situation at that stage."
Muncy's comments suggest that Ohtani may need to develop greater trust in Rushing's judgment regarding pitch calling, particularly as Rushing steps into a more prominent role. The dynamic between Ohtani and Rushing will continue to be closely watched in upcoming games.