Sports · Baseball · 1 day ago
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing to miss about nine months after elbow surgery
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing will have surgery for a torn elbow ligament after the injury worsened during throwing practice.
The 25-year-old is expected to need about nine months before he can catch again, though he may return to batting sooner.
Rushing played 80 games this season while regular catcher Will Smith was out with a neck injury, hitting 12 home runs.
The Dodgers now have fewer options to back up Smith, and the team may add another catcher.
Reports differ on whether Rushing has already had the operation or is still due to have it.
He was left off the Dodgers' postseason rosters, and his recovery will shape the team's catching plans for next season.
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing is expected to miss about nine months after surgery to repair a partially torn elbow ligament.
The procedure used internal bracing, a modified form of Tommy John surgery that adds synthetic tape to support the ligament.
Rushing’s injury worsened during throwing practice after he returned to the roster in September following a platelet-rich plasma injection.
He played 80 games in 2026, batting .246 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs.
The Dodgers may need more catching depth while Rushing recovers, with reports discussing a possible return for free agent Ben Rortvedt.
- Who
- Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing.
- What
- He underwent surgery to repair a partially torn elbow UCL and is expected to miss about nine months.
- When
- Reports about the surgery were published on October 22 and 23, 2026.
- Where
- Los Angeles Dodgers; the surgery location is not stated.
- Why
- His elbow ligament was partially torn, and the injury worsened during throwing practice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Rushing was placed on the injured list with a partial UCL tear.
He returned to the roster after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection.
The injury worsened during throwing practice, and he played two games before missing both National League postseason series rosters.
Media reports said Rushing had surgery to repair the ligament.
- Expected recovery
- About nine months
- Procedure
- Internal bracing with synthetic tape
- 2026 games
- 80
- 2026 batting average
- .246
- 2026 home runs and RBIs
- 12 home runs; 36 RBIs
- Dodgers catchers named
- Will Smith, Hunter Feduccia, and Eliezer Alfonso
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