As long as everything goes to plan and there is indeed a Major League Baseball season in 2027, the Los Angeles Dodgers just confirmed that Dalton Rushing won't be available at the start of the year.
Shortly after learning that Shohei Ohtani doesn't need surgery and will indeed pitch again next year, it was reported by the Los Angeles Times' Maddie Lee that Rushing is set to undergo right elbow surgery.
Rushing was notably left off the team's postseason rosters, and now news broke that he's expected to have a hybrid internal brace procedure.
According to Lee, that puts him in a nine-month recovery timeline, meaning as of his surgery on Oct. 21, 2026, he could potentially return in July 2027.
Dodgers lose Rushing for a good chunk of 2027
Baseball's offseason may feel like a long time to fans, but in reality, there isn't a ton of turnaround.
Between Spring Training and then the regular season seemingly starting earlier every season, Rushing's timeline would put him back after the 2027 All-Star break.
For reference, the All-Star game is set to take place on July 13, 2027.
That said, Lee noted Rushing will be able to return to hitting before those nine months are up. The question is, where would he fit in this lineup?
The designated hitter spot is taken up, and it's not like manager Dave Roberts is going to remove Ohtani from the lineup just to get Rushing some swings before he's truly back to 100%.
There's no doubt a lengthy rehab stint will be in order, and it's especially important that the 25-year-old is able to return to catching.
Fresh off his second season with the Dodgers, Rushing slashed .246/.328/.460, all of which were career highs and came with over 80 more at-bats than he had in his 2024 rookie season.
Rushing was a 1.3 WAR player in 2026, so he clearly brings a lot to the table, it's just a question of how this roster and lineup will look by the All-Star break next season.
Recently, Rushing was part of a massive six-player trade that would see the Dodgers acquire a pair of superstars from the Washington Nationals, but this injury could have a huge affect on his trade value in the offseason.
The Tennessee native had just 10 at-bats in the months of August and September, and he went 0-for-10, only reaching base once in that span due to a hit by pitch.