CHICAGO — The MRI that Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing underwent on Monday revealed a “slight tear” of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and his chances of returning to catch again this season are uncertain.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the news following Tuesday night’s loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Rushing was scratched from Sunday’s starting lineup with a sore right arm and did not make the trip to Chicago with the team. He was placed on the injured list on Monday when the Dodgers made two trades to acquire catchers Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia. They will have to go with that tandem for awhile now with Rushing’s return questionable and three-time All-Star Will Smith still in the early stages of his progression to return. Smith has been out since early June with an inflamed disc in his neck and is still weeks away from playing.
The UCL is the elbow ligament involved with Tommy John surgery. At this point, however, the treatment and prognosis for Rushing is uncertain. He will not throw for four to six weeks, making it unlikely that he catches again this season. But Rushing could continue hitting and the Dodgers could try to bring him back as a pinch-hit option off the bench later in the season or postseason.
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“You assume that he is a quick healer,” Roberts said Monday. “Dalton said that he’s had bouts of this in the past. So that’s, I guess, a good thing that he’s kind of dealt with it. But I don’t think anyone knows how long it’s going to be.”
Given a chance to be the primary catcher with Smith sidelined, Rushing has hit .253 with 12 home runs and an .809 OPS in 74 games.
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