The Dodgers have sent catcher Dalton Rushing back to the 10-day injured list, retroactive to September 5, after his right elbow discomfort returned. In the corresponding move, the club brought up catcher Eliezer Alfonzo from Triple-A.
Rushing had only just come off the injured list on September 1 after missing most of August with a partial UCL tear. He got into four games as a pinch-hitter before Saturday brought another setback, when he was scratched from the original starting designated hitter spot.
After the game, manager Dave Roberts told Bill Plunkett of the Southern California Newspaper Group and other reporters that Rushing’s elbow “ flared up ” during a pre-game throwing session. The expectation was never really that Rushing would be able to get back behind the plate this season, and this latest move likely shuts that possibility down completely. If he does return later this year, it appears his role will be limited to pinch-hit work against right-handed pitching, with Shohei Ohtani reclaiming the DH job once healthy.
That narrower path also leaves Rushing very much in question for the Dodgers’ postseason roster, even if he is ready to hit by October. The IL move may simply be a way to give him enough time to settle the soreness and get him ready for the playoffs as a hitter only.
The former top prospect has still put together a strong year at the plate, hitting .249/.332/.466 with 12 home runs in 250 plate appearances. He ended up with more opportunity than expected because Will Smith spent extended time on the IL, and Rushing did enough with it to carve out a place in the Dodgers’ plans. Against right-handers, the lefty has hit .259/.342/.506 in 184 plate appearances, while he’s posted a .220/.303/.356 line in 66 plate appearances against southpaws.
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