Two key contributors to the Los Angeles Dodgers were not as fortunate as Shohei Ohtani to avoid major surgery this offseason.
On Wednesday, the Dodgers announced that both catcher Dalton Rushing and reliever Will Klein had elbow procedures to address the injuries that ended their 2026 campaigns.
While one is hoping to get back in time for Spring Training, the other will be sidelined for the bulk of the next year.
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Klein, 26, had surgery to remove bone chips and clean up bone spurs from his elbow. Klein last pitched for the Dodgers on July 31, giving up three runs in 1.1 innings pitched.
The 2025 World Series hero was one of manager Dave Roberts’ most trusted bullpen arms early in the 2026 regular season, but his command and velocity were visibly diminished down the stretch, ultimately leading to a prolonged stint on the Injured List and exclusion from the postseason roster.
He finished the 2026 regular season with a 3.67 ERA in 36 appearances.
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That injury is considered to be relatively minor, and Dodgers officials say they expect him to be ready to go for Spring Training.
Rushing, on the other hand, is looking at a long recovery.
The backup catcher had a bit of a coming-out party this season, displaying the power, aggression and, er, competitive streak that made him the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect just a few years ago.
In 80 games, he recorded 12 home runs, seven of which took place within his first eight games of the season. He made some unwanted headlines for some peculiar behavior in the dugout, as well as a borderline (but not inexcusable) mean streak directed toward his opponents.
But his season was cut short after suffering a major elbow injury that prevented him from completing the routine throws needed by a Major League Baseball catcher. And it came at a time when the Dodgers were desperate for some offensive firepower and ravaged by injuries.
Rushing did eventually return to the team, but made only a few plate appearances as a pinch hitter in September before being kept off the postseason roster.
The Dodgers described his surgery as an “internal brace procedure,” and said his recovery time is estimated at around nine months.
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Assuming that there isn’t an MLB lockout, which many expect there will be, Rushing likely will miss the majority of the 2027 season, and could be held out entirely to avoid any setbacks.
Dodgers suddenly have major questions at catcher
It’s a big loss for the Dodgers, who suddenly have a big hole to fill at backup catcher. Behind Will Smith, the Dodgers have Hunter Feduccia and Eliézer Alfonzo as potential options. Feduccia was the primary backup throughout the postseason, and Alfonzo failed to impress during the regular season after being brought up from Triple-A—although there were ample extenuating circumstances that you could point to for his lack of production.
Fan favorite Ben Rortvedt, who was also within the Dodgers organization on a minor league deal, has opted to test free agency, although the team’s on-again, off-again love affair with “Benny Biceps” means the door is never closed on a potential return.
Backup catcher and bullpen arms will be among the biggest priorities for President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman once the offseason begins in earnest—as if he didn’t already have enough on his plate.
*cough* Tarik Skubal *cough*
MLB free agency officially begins at 2 p.m. PT, five days after the conclusion of the World Series.
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