Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing Re-establish Chemistry Amid Biceps Concern

Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing Re-establish Chemistry Amid Biceps Concern

The dynamic between Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing was put to the test on Friday, July 3, 2026, in a 4-3 comeback victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. After an on-field communication breakdown on June 24 against the Twins, Ohtani handed pitch-calling duties back to Rushing, and the pair successfully navigated six strong innings together.

However, Ohtani was removed from the game in the seventh inning as a precautionary measure due to right biceps discomfort¹.

"Ohtani left the game in the seventh in a “precautionary” move after feeling something in his right biceps... On Friday, Ohtani handed pitch-calling duties back to Rushing, communicating with head shakes and nods instead of the PitchCom buttons on his arm." — Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers taking cautious approach with his biceps ailment

Rushing spoke about the adjustments he made to build trust and simplify his approach when catching the superstar:

"I just overthought last time," Rushing said... "I was trying to be perfect, and with a guy like that, you don’t have to be perfect. You just need to call the right pitches at the right time and allow his stuff to just beat them naturally.²" — Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers taking cautious approach with his biceps ailment

While their battery chemistry has been resolved, Ohtani's status as a pitcher heading into the All-Star break remains under close watch as the Dodgers prioritize his long-term health.