Dalton Rushing

Rushing was a good prospect prior to 2024, but he improved in every aspect of the game while setting himself up for a chance to compete for an Opening Day job in 2025. He upped his hard-hit rate from 25.1 percent to 36.9 percent, while cutting his strikeout rate from 24.4 percent to 20.3 percent and upping his contact rate from 67.9 percent to 75.7 percent. Rushing will not enter the year atop of the Dodgers' catching depth chart, but he is arguably the best catching prospect in the game yet saw more starts in left field than at catcher down the stretch at Triple-A. He could be the backup catcher (Austin Barnes has a $3.5 million club option) and a part-time left fielder next year, which could allow Rushing to play as much as a starting catcher despite being Will Smith's backup. Rushing's fantasy prime could actually mirror Smith's, as a top-five catcher who hits 20-plus home runs while hitting for a good average and logging elite on-base percentages relative to other catchers. Read Past Outlooks