SAN FRANCISCO — Dalton Rushing in the Spotlight

Dalton Rushing found himself in the midst of some pretty intense moments on Thursday, though his manager wasn’t at all surprised by it.

“I think it’s just something that happens,” chuckled the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts.

Rushing’s larger-than-life personality, it seems, guarantees that.

If Shohei Ohtani represents the face of the Dodgers and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the dominant arm, then Rushing definitely embodies the team’s attitude.

This young catcher exudes the confidence of someone who knows he’s destined for greatness. Compared to typical players, his filter is quite minimal. He’s intense—likely not the most enjoyable person to face as an opponent.

His relatively few run-ins? Well, that’s mainly because he’s still working as a part-time player.

During a recent conversation, I tried to come up with a comparable character, mentioning the infamous Yasiel Puig, only to receive a lighthearted protest from Roberts.

“Please don’t do that,” he joked.

Rushing faced the Giants recently, which might explain why their starting pitcher delivered a hard throw to Rushing’s ribs late in the Dodgers’ 3-0 victory at Oracle Park.

Just two nights prior, Rushing had outpaced Giants outfielder John Foo Lee to home plate. When Lee struggled to get up post-play, Rushing could be seen on camera apparently saying something to the bench. Many online speculated he said, “It’s them,” but he later dismissed that claim.

With Kim Hye-sung, the Dodgers’ Korean infielder, stepping up as a reliever, Rushing took the opportunity to chat with Lee to clear up any potential misunderstandings.

But honestly, that doesn’t really matter.

When Logan Webb hit Rushing in the ribs with a fastball during the sixth inning, Webb didn’t outright say it was intentional, but Roberts sure had his suspicions.

“It probably was,” Roberts stated. “[Rushing] said what he said. I doubt it was personal, but, you know, things get escalated online. Webb is old-school and has to protect his teammates; we don’t mind it.”

In the next play, Rushing slid hard into Giants shortstop Willie Adams after a grounder double play.

“I enjoyed that too,” Roberts remarked. “That’s just baseball.”

When asked about the situation, Rushing took a surprisingly diplomatic stance.

“If it was on purpose, I accept that,” he replied. “I get what I deserve.”

He emphasized he made it a point to clear things up with Lee to ensure he was alright.

Regarding his encounter with Adames, Rushing said, “That’s something I learned in college. Conflict. It just happens, especially when you have a speedy guy like Hyesung following you.”

For Roberts, the lightness of the situation was refreshing given they were able to dodge a third consecutive loss. He believes Rushing’s energetic demeanor and “edge” offer a welcome contrast to the typically reserved personalities on the team.

“It’s a benefit for a veteran squad,” he noted.

Of course, this dynamic wouldn’t stand if Rushing wasn’t also performing at a high level. Even if his attitude might be a bit irksome, he’s translating that drive into impressive results, boasting a .419 batting average—the best on the team—with seven home runs in just 31 at-bats.

On Thursday, Rushing helped the Dodgers take the lead with an RBI, marking his 14th of the season, ranking second on the team after Freddie Freeman.

When asked if rivalries like those against the Giants or Padres amplify Rushing’s fiery temperament, Roberts shrugged it off.

“It shows up regardless of the opponent,” he said.

Take last week in Colorado, for instance, where Rushing expressed his doubts about how the Rockies surprised the Dodgers early in the count. That stuff is just part of the package.

Rushing’s passionate play might lead to more controversies, but he just can’t help himself.

“I think we all need to find some balance,” Roberts concluded.