Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing made an admission regarding his state of mind on Wednesday night. The catcher, who is filling in for injured Will Smith, was in disagreement with Shohei Ohtani on multiple pitches that the latter deemed needed to be challenged.
There was also a pitch in the second inning where the two got crossed up, resulting in a passed ball and a run scored by the Minnesota Twins. Immediately after the inning, Rushing was seen having a long conversation with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in the dugout. Pitching coach Mark Prior and first baseman Freddie Freeman also seem to have shared their wisdom.
In the post-game interview, Rushing admitted that he was “embarrassed”:
“I didn’t do a great job, start to finish. It was pretty embarrassing.”
He also acknowledged the support he received from his Dodgers colleagues, but said:
“It was a tough pill to swallow. It’s great, they always have my back,” Rushing added.
“Once again, it’s embarrassing that I need support like that. I’m a grown man. It’s a pretty tough pill to swallow. Both sides of the ball, it was not a great showing. It hasn’t been great as of late. I’m gonna be better.”
Fans reacted to Rushing’s admission, considering his frustrating issues throughout the season.
“This dude has some insane ego issues. Brotha was raised in a frat house,” one fan wrote.
“No it’s not. It’s actually sad (like in the depressing way) that people think this way,” another added.
“Trevor Bauer in Catcher form. What a loser,” one fan compared Rushing to former Dodgers pitcher.
Here are a few more reactions:
Dalton Rushing Making Headlines All Season Long
Dalton Rushing is enjoying a breakout season in his first full big league opportunity in a season. The Dodgers catcher is hitting .245 with eight home runs, 22 RBIs, and an OPS of .799. However, his slugging is not the only reason he has been in the spotlight this season.
Early in the season, when the Colorado Rockies defeated the Dodgers 4-3, Rushing suspected that the opposite hitters knew what was coming to them. However, his own manager, Dave Roberts, discarded that thought.
The San Francisco Giants stung him with a pitch after he allegedly mouthed expletives at their outfielder Jung Hoo Lee earlier in the game. His use of bad language again caused problems in the game against the Chicago Cubs.
Roberts also called out the Dodgers catcher for making a bad slide against the Pittsburgh Pirates to prevent a double play from happening. There have also been videos from the Dodgers dugout where Rushing seems pretty frustrated.
Roberts has asked Rushing to be better moving forward after the latest incident on Wednesday night.
“It’s a work in progress. He wants to do really well and expects a lot of himself,” Roberts said. ” … He’s still having a nice year for us and helping us win a lot of ball games.”
“Just keep him focused on not letting his emotions get the best of him,” Roberts added. “He understood it, but he’s an emotional guy.”
The Dodgers hope Rushing will do better emotionally moving forward in the season.
Read More News:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!