Dalton Rushing Is Surging — and the Window to Add Him Is Closing Fast
Dalton Rushing is hitting .333 with a .449 wOBA over the last seven days, his strikeout rate has been cut nearly in half, and he's available in 76% of leagues. If you need a catcher — or even if you think you don't — this is the add.
The Signal Is Real
Let's talk about what's changed. Over the last 30 days, Rushing posted a .245 average with a .321 wOBA and a 21.1% strikeout rate. Serviceable for a catcher, but nothing to sprint to the waiver wire for. Over the last seven days? A completely different hitter has shown up: .333 AVG, .449 wOBA, a 13.6% K rate, and an 18.2% walk rate across 22 plate appearances. That's not a hot streak built on luck. That's a process change backed by plate discipline.
The strikeout rate dropping from 21.1% to 13.6% while the walk rate climbs from 14.0% to 18.2% tells you Rushing is seeing the ball better and making better swing decisions. When a young hitter's approach tightens like this, the production that follows tends to stick.
The Batted Ball Data Backs It Up
This isn't empty average. Rushing's hard-hit rate has jumped to 52.1% over the last week, up from 40.9% over 30 days. His exit velocity has climbed from 85.9 mph to 92.9 mph in the same window. Those aren't marginal improvements — that's a hitter who has found his timing at the major league level. The 14-day numbers tell the same story in transition: 88.5 mph EV, 40.5% hard-hit rate, a .405 wOBA. The trajectory is clean and consistent. Each window is better than the last.
Look at the recent game log. On June 7th, Rushing went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBI — a performance noted by FantasyPros. Since then, he's continued to reach base, drawing three walks in his last three games while striking out just three times in 22 plate appearances. This is sustainable production from a left-handed bat in the Dodgers lineup.
WaiverScout Called This Early
We first flagged Rushing as a Watch back on March 24th, before he was rostered in virtually any league. By March 25th, we upgraded him to Add Now at 0.7% ownership. He earned another Add Now on April 25th at 27%. When his bat went cold, we were honest — we moved him to Deprioritize through most of May as the strikeouts piled up and the results lagged. We don't hold onto signals that aren't working.
But now the numbers have flipped back in a significant way, and the underlying skills metrics are stronger than they were in the spring. This isn't the same signal. It's a better one.
The Ownership Window
Rushing sits at 24% rostered with a +14% surge over the last seven days. That velocity tells you managers are waking up. At the catcher position — where viable options are scarce — a 25-year-old with this kind of batted-ball profile in the Dodgers lineup won't stay available long. If you're running with Dillon Dingler or Hunter Goodman and not seeing results, the upgrade is sitting right there.
Rushing has logged 22 PA in the last week, confirming consistent playing time. The Dodgers are giving him the reps, and he's rewarding them.
Verdict: Add Now
The data is clear. A .449 wOBA, a 52.1% hard-hit rate, 92.9 mph exit velocity, a plummeting strikeout rate, and a rising walk rate — all from the catcher position, all in a premier lineup. Dalton Rushing is a priority add in all formats. Don't wait for 50% ownership to confirm what the numbers are already telling you.