Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing is the main reason red-hot prospect Josue De Paula was demoted.
For the postseason roster, Rushing and De Paula are competing for the last bench spot as a lefty pinch-hitter.
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De Paula was sent down to Triple-A for the next week, opening a spot for Shohei Ohtani on the active roster.
Later on, Rushing will be activated and get his shot at the plate.
“It’s going to be a good debate,” manager Dave Roberts said to reporters. “Hitting off the bench is very difficult, and so you’re just trying to figure out who gives us the best chance.
“We have to have those conversations and make a decision.”
By demoting De Paula now, he can be added back to the active roster in time for the postseason if the team chooses him.
Through 11 games in the big leagues, De Paul is hitting .323/.500/.545 with a 1.081 OPS. He is getting on base during half of his plate appearances, and he is really making hitters work.
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On the other hand, Rushing has been on the injured list with an elbow injury.
He came back in early September, had four pinch-hit at-bats, and then went back on the injured list after his throwing program set him back.
With such obvious momentum for De Paula, the organization still wants to give Rushing a chance, though
“To be quite frank, it’s going to be tougher for Dalton given the time that he’s missed, and … you have three games to get back in the playoff form, which is tough to do,” Roberts explained
“It’s not a knock on him. He’s been great for us. But it’s still tough given that you’re also talking about the consistency of at-bats recently from Josue.”
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Unless Rushing really puts something great together, Roberts and the Dodgers have no choice but to give De Paula a shot.
“Just showing them that I can swing it, and it’s an option,” Rushing told The LA Times after a recent batting practice.
“I know that you kind of tie [the team’s] hands up when you can’t play defense. So, I’m not expecting anything… just continue to take at-bats and see where we go from there.”
