The Dodgers will place Will Smith on the 10-day injured list tomorrow, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register). They’ll select Chuckie Robinson onto the active roster to back up Dalton Rushing. L.A. opened the necessary 40-man roster spot by releasing Tyler Fitzgerald this afternoon.
Smith has been nursing a stiff neck for the past few days. He hasn’t played since Friday. The Dodgers can backdate his IL placement for up to three days, so he’ll be down until at least next Wednesday. Roberts downplayed the level of concern.
It has been a relatively slow start to the season for Smith. He’s hitting .249/.338/.382 with six home runs in 201 plate appearances. His plate discipline and batted ball metrics are mostly in line with those of previous seasons, so the Dodgers surely aren’t worried. Smith remains on the short list of the best catchers in the sport even if the slight dip may keep him from a fourth straight All-Star appearance.
Rushing, who is hitting .275/.352/.532 on the season, would be the #1 catcher on most other teams. He’s more than capable of holding the primary job for what should be a short-term absence. Rushing has started four straight around Monday’s off day. The Dodgers don’t have another day off until next Thursday, so they needed to get a healthy catcher up at some point.
That’ll fall to the 31-year-old Robinson, an organizational depth type. He played one game for the Dodgers last September and has had brief MLB stints with the Reds and White Sox. The Dodgers re-signed him on a minor league deal over the offseason and have kept him at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Robinson missed the first month of the season but has come back with a solid .274/.338/.466 start over 20 games. He’s a career .131/.169/.192 hitter at the big league level.
Damn now we have to see more Dalton Rushing? Ugh
Don’t like winners?
I can understand that. Dude just continues to embarrass himself and your team with his juvenile tough guy schtick. He needs an internal punch in the face.
He may embarrass himself with his mouth, but as a player his future is bright and the talent is evident
100%. He is good. That’s why it’s such a shame to see him go with performative BS. Just play the game, bro. Old school baseball tough will be revealed in good time. He doesn’t have to go out of his way to artificially speed up the process. He looks like a goose.
We’ve been seeing a lot of him anyway, and having had that look I am not completely sold on his defensive chops or strike zone knowledge. He’s kind of on the bubble, as far as I’m concerned.
Only the BEST backup catcher in MLB
Chuckie is fine, but Friedman, do LA a solid and buy Rortvedt back from the Mets. Just like Chuckie, he’s got no stick and is a AAAA player on his best day, but dude is a dog!
They missed out on Chadwick Tromp. Could have had him the other day. He may have even been given an offer but it seems like he is an East Coast guy.
I haven’t watched him enough to know if he is solid defensively and a strong game planning. Chuckle and Rortvedt seem like they do.
Rortvedt didn’t control the running game as well as Smith but few do.
And* strong at game planning*
Rortvedt was a beast for LA and everyone loved him when he was here. I wouldn’t mind a reunion.
I remember rushing had that crazy start to the year and since May 1 has only hit .222 with one home run albeit in only 63 at bats but still he unfortunately came down from his unworldly tear he was going on.
Streaky yes though for what it’s worth last 26 ABs he’s at least hotter with a .346 /.393 /.538 slash.
Every player is so streaky
They are either 1.000 OBP in their last PA or .000.
If my parents named me “Chuckie”, I would have sued them in such a hurry their heads would spin.
I can top that….worked with a guy whose parents apparently really wanted a girl.
His first and middle name?
Kimber Lee
The poor guy was doomed from the start.
Not easy when you are not an every day player, but he could be starting catcher for a lot of ball MLb clubs..
They are getting Rushing a few reps at first base as well this season.
Hopefully they can get Smith’s neck figured out quickly with some rest.
Chuckie’s 31 and has played only 52 games in the Bigs.Like I did for Ward, I’m rooting for him to get his day in the sun!
He can’t hit major league pitching. Since his hot start for Louisville in 2023, he hasn’t exactly been great against Triple-A pitching either.
He’s purely up because of defense.
You don’t know what you are talking about. Do you even watch the games?
Rushing is a good one. And there is untapped potential for more from him.
Rushing is a modern day Mike Piazza.
Will Smith might not have a job when he returns.
Lolololol. Tons of differences between Piazza and Rushing. Smith is a much better overall player.
Let’s not get carried away now. Piazza was one of, if not the best, hitting catchers of all-time. Comparing Rushing to him is like comparing Pages to Willie Mays.
I like Rushing but comparing him to Piazza is a joke.
LOL
His bat might be Piazza but his mouth is AJ Pierzynski.
His bat is nowhere near Piazza. Piazza competed with Tony Gwynn for batting titles.
Piazza also ran off his mouth one too many times.
Comments in January: Haha the Dodgers are so dumb, Dalton Rushing is great and they don’t have room to play him.
Comments in June: Ugh I hate having to watch Dalton Rushing play all the time.