Overview
- A clear PitchCom cross-up and a passed ball between Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing in the second inning of the June 24 game triggered a visible dispute over pitch selection and reviews.
- After the miscommunication and two successful challenges, Ohtani began entering his own pitches into PitchCom, then settled in to throw six innings with eight strikeouts and two earned runs in a 4-3 win.
- Rushing publicly called the outing "embarrassing," teammates and coaches consoled him in the dugout, and manager Dave Roberts said the catcher is a "work in progress" who will most likely catch Ohtani’s next start.
- The situation is intensified by Will Smith’s ongoing neck problem that keeps him out of action and by small-sample splits showing Ohtani has been far more effective with Smith behind the plate than with Rushing.
- The incident places short-term pressure on the Dodgers to balance Rushing’s development, Ohtani’s comfort on the mound, and possible roster moves before the trade deadline while debate continues between calls for patience and calls for a reset.