The Los Angeles Dodgers selected catcher Dalton Rushing from the University of Louisville with their first selection of the 2022 MLB draft, according to a team announcement on Sunday evening.
Rushing, 21, was chosen with the 40th overall selection after having played in 64 games for the Louisville Cardinals last season. In 64 games, he hit .310 with 16 doubles, 23 homers, 62 RBI and 68 runs scored. His 23 long balls were tied for fourth most in Louisville history and were the most by a Cardinal since the 2009 season.
Rushing ranked in the Top 10 in the Athletic Coast Conference in walks, home runs, on-base percentage, runs and slugging percentage, and ranked top 15 in RBIs and total bases. Following the season, he received various honors, including Collegiate Baseball Newspaper All-America Second Team, ABCA All-America Third Team, Perfect Game All-America Third Team, All-ACC Second Team, All-ACC Baseball Academic Team.
“Dalton was one of our primary targets of our draft,” said Dodger Vice President, Amateur Scouting Billy Gasparino. “We think he has outstanding talent. Catchers that hit with power that can control the zone and hit left-handed are rare commodities in the draft.”
Rushing played three seasons at Louisville, slashing a combined .290/.442/.630 with 28 homers and 82 RBI in 102 career games. He posted a .990 fielding percentage, making just six errors in his entire collegiate career. Prior to his time at Louisville, he was a four-year letterman at Brighton High School in Tennessee, hitting .491 with 10 doubles, six triples, 11 homers and 46 RBI his senior season.
The Dodgers next selection will be Monday afternoon as they will make the 105th overall selection when the 2022 draft continues with Rounds 3-10 starting at 11:00 a.m. Pacific.
The final rounds (11-20) of the draft will continue Tuesday starting at 11:05 a.m. Pacific.
(The Los Angeles Dodgers Media Group furnished the information in this report)
Think Blue Planning Committee 
While we all understand the idea of picking best available talent a catcher? Really? Why not an outfielder that can actually make contact?? Dodgers don’t have any of those.
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My thoughts also, Tmax, but you just don’t argue with Marty Lamb who is the scout that was touting Rushing.
Lamb’s other finds include Buehler, Will Smith, Ferguson and Miller. I’m not going to argue with him.
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Good point
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They have Jeren Kendall. 😀
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LOL yep find him under can’t make contact like most of the Dodger outfielders in the minors. Don’t forget Vogel
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Vogel could definitely turn out to be another Kendall (without the power) but he’s actually improved over the past month. Still too young to give up on him, as opposed to Kendall whom I’m surprised is still with the organization.
Speaking of guys who aren’t doing well, old friend DJ Peters was just released by his Korean team. He’s a really good kid and I hope he gets a chance back here with a minor league contract from someone if he still wants to continue with his career.
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Agree. Catchers are so risky. Course we haven’t drafted a good outfielder sinse verdugo.
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If the MLB goes to an automated strike zone which reportedly it will in a couple of years that takes value from the catcher’s position. Rushing according to The Athletic has minimal foot speed so he is a catcher, a first baseman, or possibly 3rd? My point is they have Taylor at AA and reportedly another jewel in 18-year-old Galiz at catcher. And of course, Cartaya coming up in 24 or 25? The Dodgers do have some young outfielders coming up like Ramos, Ward, Rodriguez, Pages, Outman, etc but are they all like Peters and the rest not able to make consistent contact? Are the Dodgers plans to develop pitchers and trade them for position help or buy guys in free agency? That is a pricey way to go. Bellinger’s continued insistence to swing hard in case he hits it and his free agency in 24 underlines the current Dodgers’ lack of talent in the outfield. Granted they are having Vargas and Busch play outfield in the minors. Interesting to attempt to understand the logic of drafting Rushing. Hopefully, he explodes in the minors. As Jeff states the scout promoting him has found incredible talent.
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And the last time a s scout/club drafted a playerwithout incredible times was? Lol
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Uh incredi le talent. Damn phone
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Well said, Gordon, although for a minute I thought you were posting in French.
By the way, we drafted a 24-year old, 5th year senior today. I’m leaving it to you to break the news to him that as soon as he signs with us, we’re dumping him because he’s too old.
Going into yesterday, I was very much hoping we’d draft mostly position players, since we’re so top-heavy on pitching and catching.
Well, we’ve only taken one pitcher so far, plus another 2-way player who will probably become a pitcher. We’ve also drafted another two catchers, because…………………I have no idea why.
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Darn. What the heck do you call a 24 year old draft. Does he qualify for ” career minor leaguer “? I’ll have to rewrite the rules now. Stay tuned.
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