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MLB·ANALYSIS·July 4, 2026 07:35 AM ET

Dalton Rushing Draws the Start Behind the Plate for Shohei Ohtani

Catching a two-way star is a job unlike any other.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 41 min read
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For SportsCenter, on Dalton Rushing starting behind the plate, and why catching Shohei Ohtani is different than basicall Via @Alden_Gonzalez on X

What happened: Dalton Rushing is starting at catcher with Shohei Ohtani on the mound, a pairing ESPN's Alden Gonzalez examined for SportsCenter. The assignment stands out because Ohtani's two-way workload makes him unlike basically any other pitcher a catcher will handle.

Why it matters: A catcher working with Ohtani has to manage a pitcher who is also the lineup's centerpiece, juggling game-planning, in-game communication and pace around a player who never leaves the field. How Rushing handles that partnership shapes how freely the Dodgers can deploy Ohtani, whose bat has been surging, in his dual role.

What to watch: Watch how the Rushing-Ohtani battery performs in Ohtani's next starts, and whether the pairing becomes a regular arrangement as the season progresses.

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