Dodgers' Dalton Rushing Has Disagreement With Shohei Ohtani Leading to Conversation With Dave Roberts
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Shohei Ohtani is still adjusting to new catcher Dalton Rushing after Will Smith went on the injured list, with noticeable communication issues during their recent games.
- In a recent outing, Ohtani and Rushing disagreed on pitch challenges, with Ohtani ultimately proving correct by challenging a pitch without Rushing's approval.
- Rushing has struggled with controlling his emotions on the field, leading to multiple discussions with manager Dave Roberts, Freddie Freeman, and pitching coach Mark Prior to improve his in-game adjustments.
- Despite the challenges, both Ohtani and Rushing acknowledge their developing relationship and view the current struggles as learning experiences.
- Ohtani’s performance has dipped slightly with Rushing catching, allowing seven earned runs in two starts compared to five earned runs over his first 10 starts with Smith.
