The Los Angeles Dodgers face a sudden test of depth after placing catcher Dalton Rushing on the Injured List with a small elbow ligament tear. With veteran Will Smith already sidelined by a neck issue, the club moved quickly to add reinforcements behind the plate — a timely development as Los Angeles defends its division lead late in the season.
Rushing’s placement on the IL removes the primary option at catcher for the near term; the team described the injury as a “slight tear,” but did not provide a firm timetable for his return. That gap makes the catcher position a short-term priority for a roster chasing postseason positioning.
To plug the hole, the Dodgers executed two acquisitions. They brought back catcher Ben Rortvedt from the New York Mets in a trade that sent pitcher Chayce McDermott to New York. In a separate move, Los Angeles added Hunter Feduccia from the Tampa Bay Rays in a transaction that involved Jack Suwinski and Jacob Kmatz.
Rookie Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. was pressed into service immediately following Rushing’s injury, but the expectation inside the organization is that Rortvedt — who has previous experience filling the starting role in Los Angeles — will assume the majority of playing time at catcher.
Last season, Rortvedt arrived with the Dodgers at the trade deadline and carried a heavy workload down the stretch: he started 15 of the 18 regular-season games in which he appeared and was given starts in the postseason, including four in the playoffs as the club went on to win the World Series. That track record makes him a natural short-term solution now.
The timing matters: the Dodgers enter the stretch with a 69-45 record and a lead in the National League West over the Arizona Diamondbacks (60-54). With the division race still active, stable catching play — both offensively and in terms of handling a deep pitching staff — could be decisive.
What each newly assembled catcher brings to the roster:
- Ben Rortvedt — Proven experience in a starter’s role with the Dodgers, familiarity with the pitching staff, reliable defense and playoff-tested poise.
- Hunter Feduccia — Provides additional organizational depth and upside as a complementary option behind the plate.
- Eliezer Alfonzo Jr. — A rookie opportunity; can give the club flexibility while veterans recover.
Why this matters now
Catcher is a position with outsized influence on game outcomes. Strong game-calling, pitch framing and the ability to rest arms across a busy schedule help protect a pitching staff that the Dodgers rely on heavily. Losing Rushing removes one of the rotation’s familiar partners and forces the front office to prioritize short-term reliability.
Dodgers manager and coaching staff will monitor workload, matchup decisions and how well new additions mesh with the pitching staff over the coming weeks. The club has not announced a recovery timetable for Rushing; updates are likely as imaging and medical evaluations continue.
What to watch next
Watch for three near-term developments: the Dodgers’ playing-time split at catcher, how Rortvedt handles a larger workload, and any further roster moves if Rushing’s IL stay extends. Each will affect the team’s pitching management and could influence the final weeks of the regular season as Los Angeles aims to protect its lead and prepare for October baseball.
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