Dalton
Rushing

2022 MLB Draft: Rushing was limited to 67 at-bats last spring, hitting a modest .254/.342/.463, but he made great progress in the Cape Cod League last summer, tying for sixth with six homers while ranking fourth in RBI (24) and fifth in batting average (.314). This spring the left-handed hitter continued that momentum at the plate with a .310/.470/.686 slash and 23 home runs. He also has a strong 16.8% walk rate, but his 19.5% strikeout rate does set off some alarm bells. In the batter's box he shows well above-average bat speed and the ability to make consistent, hard contact to all fields and he routinely tops 100 mph with his exit velocities. Behind the plate he shows a flexible lower half and sets up low with his body and target. He moves well laterally and keeps everything in front. Rushing also showed above average arm strength, but with it comes below average accuracy which is something that plagued him last summer as well. He threw out nine of 30 (30%) attempted base stealers this season. Overall, Rushing has a power over hit offensive profile combined with the raw tools needed for success behind the plate. A left-handed power hitting catcher with a chance to stick behind the dish is an attractive draft piece and the club that believes the most in its catcher development will likely select Rushing in the top 50 overall picks.

Although the Cardinals lack their annual first round prospect this year, they still have plenty of talent on their roster. The top prospect is C/1B/DH Dalton Rushing. He was limited to 67 at-bats last spring, hitting a modest .254/.342/.463, but he made great progress in the Cape Cod League, tying for sixth with six homers while ranking fourth in RBI (24) and fifth in batting average (.314). This spring the left-handed hitter has continued that momentum at the plate with a .301/.472/.665 slash. He also has a strong 19% walk rate, but his 21.5% strikeout rate does set off some alarm bells. During the Virginia Tech series he showed well above-average bat speed and the ability to make consistent, hard contact to all fields. He finished the series 3-for-10 with a pair of home runs and four RBI. His hard contact included EVs of 105 mph (419' HR), 103 (F8), 101.7 (F8), 101.1 (396' HR), 100.3 (F8) and 98.9 (F7). Starting behind the plate for Saturday's game he showed a flexible lower half and set up low with his body and target. He moved well laterally and kept everything in front. Rushing also showed above average arm strength, but with it came below average accuracy which is something that plagued him last summer as well. Overall, Rushing has a power over hit offensive profile combined with the raw tools needed for success behind the plate. A left-handed power hitting catcher with a chance to stick behind the dish is an attractive draft piece and the club that believes the most in its catcher development will likely select Rushing in the top 100 overall picks.

Cape Cod- Seeing very little time behind the plate last spring for the Cardinals as he was buried behind No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis, Rushing has taken the Cape by storm in the batter's box, showing the ability to hit for both power (.542 SLG%) and average (.314). He's strong with well above average bat speed as he drops the head and his barrel whips through the hitting zone. There is some swing/miss to his game (17 BB vs 31 SO in 142 Cape plate appearances), but he will hit the ball where it's pitched and produces consistent, hard contact to all fields. During my look, he especially feasted on low heat, pummeling it for extra bases. Among his many highlights was a 407' HR to near dead center field with a 107 mph exit velocity. Defensively, Rushing is a work in progress with agile feet and a plus arm that he is not afraid to show. With a quick release, he's aggressive and confident in his throwing and popped a 1.95 to the bag during game action. However, it is his hard hands and receiving skills that lag behind. All too often the ball clanked off his mitt, allowing runners to advance. Built like a tank at 5-foot-11, 235 pounds, Rushing can also play first base, but his height could be an issue. Overall, the left handed hitter possesses top three round talent with the potential to become a middle of the order run producer at the pro level. For that to be realized, he must lessen his swing/miss and he has much work to do catching the baseball in order to elevate his draft value to those rounds.

Louisville commit.  6-0, 200-pound catcher w/ some of the best game power in the state.  Hits from a slightly open, slightly crouched stance w/ back shoulder hand location.  Leg kick w/ proper load.  Huge power, ball sounds different off bat.  Natural loft.  Homered in game w/ double off wall, hard single.  Athletic w/ plus arm strength, projects to stay behind the plate.  One of the top 2019 prospects in the state.