Prime prospect Dalton Dashing joins the Dodgers, including energy and flexibility to an already loaded roster in a postseason-bound season.
In a season already gilded with promise, the Los Angeles Dodgers have added one other web page to their ever-growing story of excellence. On a sun-washed Wednesday in Could, amid a 27-15 begin and postseason aspirations already whispering within the air, they turned the web page to a brand new chapter — one named Dalton Dashing.
The membership’s high prospect and considered one of baseball’s most polished younger hitters, Dashing will now step into the highlight. To not carry the load, however to study, to develop, and possibly, so as to add one other spark to a staff already burning brilliant.
Dalton Dashing has been known as up by the Dodger per @FabianArdaya.
2025 (AAA): 132 PA, .308/.424/.515, 5 2B, 5 HR, 15.9% BB, 22% Ok
Dashing is likely one of the finest prospect bats within the sport, however his PT state of affairs is cloudy.#LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/EsqDSbmRkb
— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) Could 14, 2025
From Prospect to Presence: Dashing’s Ascent
There’s one thing quiet about greatness within the making. Dalton Dashing didn’t burst onto the scene — he climbed towards it. Drafted within the second spherical in 2022, Dashing has carried out what all Dodgers prospects are taught to do: keep regular, keep humble, keep ready.
At Triple-A this season, he has carried out greater than earn a call-up — he demanded it. Hitting .308 with a .424 OBP and 5 residence runs in 132 plate appearances, Dashing proved he wasn’t only a future piece. He was prepared now.
Dalton Dashing stated again in Spring that his future function for the Dodgers was to again up Smith.
“From a catching perspective, my job is to step in and make Will’s job simpler. Give him a bit of little bit of time. Let him be the participant that he’s and make a push for the Corridor of Fame.” pic.twitter.com/4TXaCR4b7n
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) Could 14, 2025
A catcher by commerce, Dashing has proven outstanding versatility, logging innings at first base and within the outfield. However his bat is the calling card — a left-handed stroke with compact energy, pure carry, and a persistence on the plate past his years. He doesn’t simply swing; he calculates, he waits, after which he punishes.
His arrival comes not as a necessity however as a luxurious. And in Los Angeles, these have a tendency to show into legends.
A Farewell, A Welcome, and a Balancing Act
With each starting in baseball, there’s an ending. To make room for Dashing, the Dodgers designated longtime veteran Austin Barnes for task. The transfer was greater than transactional — it was emotional. Barnes was the longest-tenured place participant on the roster, a quiet cornerstone of previous Octobers.
The Dodgers, with grace, stated goodbye with a message that felt like a thank-you letter — from a company to a professional who by no means requested for the highlight, however all the time wore the jersey with goal.
Austin Barnes has been DFA’d by the Dodgers after 11 seasons with the staff.
Dalton Dashing has been known as up his place.
Barnes, thanks a lot for every part 🙏
Through David Vassegh pic.twitter.com/uVMbJYEwKc
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) Could 14, 2025
Now, the baton passes to Dashing, whose alternative will are available in spurts. Will Smith is likely one of the finest catchers within the sport, hitting .330 with an on-base proportion north of .420. However Smith additionally will get extra relaxation than most elite backstops, giving Dashing the runway to work behind the plate.
Anticipate him additionally at first base on Freddie Freeman’s off days, or in left area when the Dodgers shuffle their stacked lineup. In a roster outlined by its flexibility, Dashing turns into one other device within the toolbox — a hammer once they want one, a glove once they don’t.
The Dodgers didn’t want Dashing. However that’s by no means stopped them earlier than from making a great staff even higher.
No Stress, Solely Promise
The great thing about the second is that there is no such thing as a rush. Not for Dashing.
The Dodgers don’t want him to hit cleanup. They don’t want him to avoid wasting a season. They want him to be what he already is: ready, affected person, and poised. That’s how the Dodgers construct — not on hype, however on basis.
Dashing brings greater than a sophisticated bat. He brings power, athleticism, and a presence past the numbers. He’s faster than most catchers. Smarter than most rookies. And already, he’s seasoned from the grind of the minor leagues.
If he finds his rhythm early, he could possibly be one other weapon come October — a trusted bat off the bench, a gradual presence behind the plate, or possibly extra. However even when that doesn’t occur straight away, the Dodgers can wait. They’re constructed to.
Dalton Dashing’s story doesn’t must be written in a flash. It simply has to start. And now, in Los Angeles, below the lights of Chavez Ravine, it does.
