Overview
- Multiple outlets, led by Dodgers beat writer Maddie Lee, reported late Wednesday that Rushing had surgery on his right elbow to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
- The team described the operation as a hybrid internal-brace procedure that medical sources project will require about nine months before he can resume full-time catching while allowing him to hit well before then.
- Rushing first suffered the elbow injury in early August and had multiple injured-list stints and setbacks during a throwing progression before the club activated him briefly late in the regular season.
- The recovery timetable effectively rules him out of catching at the start of the 2027 season and creates immediate roster questions for the Dodgers, including whether Hunter Feduccia will open as Will Smith’s backup and whether Rushing should be carried as a hitter-only or sent to Triple-A for regular at-bats.
- Beyond the roster math, the surgery changes Rushing’s development path and short-term value because he will miss meaningful catching work during his rehab and face a stretched timeline to reestablish himself as a two-way player.