Nico Hoerner Reflects on Moment with Dalton Rushing

Nico Hoerner finds himself thinking about what he could have done differently. During a game on Saturday, Cubs infielders seemed taken aback when Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing allegedly directed a comment at their own Miguel Amaya. Online videos have speculated that Hoerner might have even called himself a “fat fk” after a wild pitch, which quickly gained traction on social media.

Hoerner’s surprise reaction adds layers to the story. The 28-year-old admits he feels he could have stood up more for his teammate. “Honestly, I wish I had confronted him a bit more directly. I was pretty taken aback during my at-bat,” he shared on a radio show. “It was really a strange moment, and I felt pretty odd about it.”

He went on, “I’m not suggesting I should have tackled him or anything, but I’m surprised by how it all unfolded. At the end of the day, I just want to support my teammates.”

The incident happened in the third inning of a game where the Dodgers outscored the Cubs 12-4. Amaya managed to advance to second after a wild pitch from Roki Sasaki and eventually scored later in the inning, putting the Cubs ahead 2-0 at that point.

While the host didn’t specifically ask Hoerner if Rushing uttered “fat f***,” when asked about lip-reading, Hoerner simply agreed. The comment drew attention, particularly as it followed another similar incident involving Rushing and the Giants earlier this season.

After a play that upset Giants outfielder John Hu Lee, Rushing reportedly approached the dugout, turned, and seemed to say, “F*** you.” He later denied saying anything directed at anyone in particular, stating, “I hope he didn’t interpret it that way. I’m definitely going to clarify with him tomorrow to make sure he’s alright.”

In what could have been retaliatory behavior, the Giants hit Rushing shortly after, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts dismissed concerns about unwritten baseball rules. He noted that Rushing’s words might have been blown out of proportion. “He likely didn’t mean it personally,” Roberts commented. “Webby gets it; he’s old-school and looks out for his teammates.”

The Cubs won’t face the Dodgers again until early August, and I think it’s safe to say they won’t forget Rushing’s comments before then.