Dalton Rushing Took a Foul Ball Square, And That '23 Concussion Makes It Way Worse

Holy smokes, you guys see what went down last night in Minneapolis? Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing got absolutely leveled by a sharp foul tip directly off his face mask in the first inning. Talk about a nightmare start! The dude stayed in for a bit, but then had to exit the Dodgers' 2-1 win against the Twins before the third inning even started, all to check for a potential concussion. This isn't just a bump on the head, though, and that's what makes it so much scarier for him and his team early in the season.

"My Brain Was Just Pounding" After Early Hit

This whole thing started on the very first pitch of the bottom of the first. BAM. Rushing took that foul ball square on the mask. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kept it real after the game, saying Rushing "squared him up, and he was a little groggy," which meant getting him out was "probably best." Rushing himself admitted the hit had an immediate effect. He said his "brain was just pounding for the next couple innings and even through that first at-bat," which was a one-pitch at-bat, but still. He wasn't comfortable out there, looking for a strike just to get it over with. He gutted out two innings, but backup Chuckie Robinson had to step in before the bottom of the third.

More Than Just a Headache: A Scary History Emerges

This isn't just some random headache

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for Rushing. He revealed that this isn't his first rodeo with head injuries. He had a concussion back in '23 from a backswing that hit him in the back of the head, and he actually "fell down" trying to stand up afterward. So when the training staff saw a "headache" and "a little bit of nauseous feeling" this time, combined with "a couple of symptoms that scared them," they weren't messing around. They played it the "safe route," which is exactly what you want to hear. Roberts confirmed that Rushing passed the initial protocol test but has to do it again in 24 hours. That means it's "pretty unlikely he'll be in there tomorrow," and the team is bringing someone up to cover. This is a big deal for the Dodgers, who are already missing primary catcher Will Smith, out since June 11 with neck stiffness. Plus, right fielder Kyle Tucker also left the game with lower back spasms! Talk about a rough night for the squad, even if they pulled out the win. Rushing, ever the competitor, managed to find a silver lining, saying, "We're still able to pull a win," and that he's "going to be just fine." Let's hope he is, man. While the Dodgers are dealing with that drama, our boys in blue and green, the Mariners, just handled business! They picked up a solid 3-1 win against the Boston Red Sox. That's the kind of early season form we love to see from T-Mobile Park. We need our guys staying healthy and bringing that fire every single night!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.