Shohei Ohtani on the mound is usually a show. But during the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the Twins on June 23, the show took a weird turn. Ohtani and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing just weren’t on the same page. At one point, both walked back to the dugout looking like they’d been in a small argument. It was the kind of moment that gets noticed.
Mookie Betts and Max Muncy both saw it. And they had things to say about it on Betts’ podcast, On Base. Muncy called it a growing moment for both guys. He pointed out that Ohtani can’t always throw to his usual catcher, Will Smith. Sometimes the superstar wants a pitch that maybe isn’t the smartest call. Rushing has to learn how to handle that on the fly.
“He’s the catcher for a staff that’s first in baseball in a lot of categories,” Muncy said. “That’s a lot on your plate, and he’s done an amazing job handling it. He’ll just keep learning.”
Betts liked what happened after the game more than during it. Rushing stepped up and took responsibility. Betts said he loved that. “He knows he has a lot on his plate,” Betts added.
Nobody’s saying this is a crisis. Catcher-pitcher chemistry takes time. But it’s a real test for a rookie backstop trying to manage a guy who’s one of the best pitchers in the game while also being the biggest star in baseball. That’s pressure. Rushing is handling it. Mostly.
What happens next between Ohtani and Rushing is still unclear. The season is long. They’ll probably figure it out. But for one night in June, it looked like two talented guys still learning to trust each other.
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