Dalton Rushing Bio
Dalton Wayne Rushing (born February 21, 2001) is an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He wears jersey No. 68 for Los Angeles and bats and throws from the left side as a switch-hitting backstop with growing experience at first base and in the corner outfield. Drafted by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Rushing worked his way through the minor leagues before reaching the majors in May 2025.
Early Life and Background
Dalton Wayne Rushing was born on February 21, 2001, and grew up in Brighton, Tennessee, where he attended Brighton High School. As a senior in 2019, he batted .491 with 11 home runs and 46 runs batted in, earning All-State honors for his performance. Despite his strong high school resume, he went undrafted in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and chose to continue his development at the collegiate level.
He enrolled at the University of Louisville to play college baseball for the Louisville Cardinals. With established catcher Henry Davis ahead of him on the depth chart, Rushing opened his Louisville career working at first base. That position flexibility, paired with his offensive profile, helped him earn regular playing time during a college career interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Path to Baseball
Rushing spent his first college season appearing in six games before the 2020 schedule was cancelled. He returned in 2021 and appeared in 28 games, batting .254 with four home runs and 14 runs batted in. That summer he joined the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves, where he batted .314 with six home runs over 118 at-bats and was named a league all-star.
After the 2021 season, Henry Davis was selected first overall in the MLB Draft, opening the catcher role at Louisville. Rushing seized the job in 2022, appearing in 64 games while slashing .310/.470/.686 with 23 home runs, 62 runs batted in, and 16 doubles. He was named an All-American and finished the year as one of the top prospects heading into the 2022 MLB Draft.
Dalton Rushing Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Rushing in the second round with the 40th overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. He signed with the club for a $1,959,390 signing bonus on July 30, 2022, and made his professional debut with the Arizona Complex League Dodgers before a quick promotion to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. In 28 games at Rancho Cucamonga, he hit .424 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in, then closed the year with the Great Lakes Loons, where he appeared in three playoff games.
He returned to Great Lakes for the 2023 season and hit .228 in 89 games with 15 home runs and 53 runs batted in while refining his defense behind the plate. His stock within the organization remained high, and he was selected to represent the Dodgers at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game during MLB All-Star Week.
Minor League Breakthrough (2024)
Rushing opened 2024 with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club in August 2024, with the club announcing he would play primarily as a left fielder to increase his versatility. Across the two levels he appeared in 114 games, batting .271 with 26 home runs and 85 runs batted in. He was recognized as the Dodgers Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year for 2024.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025–Present)
Rushing began the 2025 season at Oklahoma City, where he hit .308 with five home runs and 17 runs batted in across 31 games. On May 14, 2025, he was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors for the first time, making his MLB debut the following day as the starting catcher against the Athletics. He recorded his first MLB hit in his second plate appearance off Jason Alexander, and on May 31 he hit his first career major league home run off Pablo Reyes of the New York Yankees.
In his first major league stint he appeared in 53 games, batting .204 with four home runs and 24 runs batted in. He made one postseason appearance for the Dodgers, striking out as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series. In 2026, Rushing continued to produce, going four-for-four with two home runs against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 6, and hitting his first career grand slam against the New York Mets on April 15.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rushing reached the majors in just under three years after being drafted, a rapid rise that included a Futures Game selection, a Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year award, and his first MLB hit, home run, and grand slam all coming within his first full major league calendar. His April 2026 grand slam against the Mets and his four-hit, two-homer game against the Blue Jays underscored his emerging power potential in the Dodgers’ lineup.
Dalton Rushing Career Wins
As a position player, Dalton Wayne Rushing’s win totals are measured in offensive milestones and postseason appearances rather than victories on the mound or in racing. Through his first full major league seasons, his career ledger includes a 2025 National League Division Series appearance with the Dodgers, his first MLB hit in 2025, his first MLB home run in 2025, and his first MLB grand slam in 2026.
Minor League Highlights
At Rancho Cucamonga in 2022, Rushing hit .424 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in across 28 games, then reached the Midwest League playoffs with Great Lakes. In 2024, he combined for 26 home runs and 85 runs batted in across Tulsa and Oklahoma City, earning the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year honor.
Other Performances
In the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Bourne Braves, Rushing batted .314 with six home runs over 118 at-bats and was named a league all-star, a performance that helped cement his status as a top draft prospect heading into the 2022 MLB Draft.
Dalton Rushing Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Dalton Wayne Rushing grew up in Brighton, Tennessee, where his family supported his baseball development at Brighton High School. His brother, Logan Rushing, plays college baseball at the University of Memphis, giving the family a second collegiate baseball connection beyond Dalton’s time at Louisville.
Personal Life
Rushing keeps his personal life largely private, with limited public details about relationships or residence beyond his baseball commitments. His known family ties center on his brother Logan’s college career at Memphis.
2025 Season Performance
Dalton Wayne Rushing opened 2025 at Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .308 with five home runs and 17 runs batted in across 31 games before his May promotion. After his MLB debut on May 15 against the Athletics, he settled into a part-time role behind the plate and at designated hitter, recording his first hit, first home run, and 24 runs batted in over 53 games with Los Angeles.
He appeared in one postseason game for the Dodgers in the National League Division Series before being removed from the roster the following series. His 2025 campaign closed with a major league slash line of .204 alongside four home runs and 24 runs batted in, setting the stage for an expanded role heading into the next season with the Dodgers.
