Shohei Ohtani calls his own pitches vs. Twins after apparent dispute with catcher Dalton Rushing
Story by
Jack BaerStaff writerThu, June 25, 2026 at 5:30 AM UTC·4 min readLos Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani normally comes across as unflappable, but his patience was tested on Wednesday. By his own catcher, Dalton Rushing.
A bizarre start on the mound against the Minnesota Twins saw Ohtani get frustrated enough with Rushing during a three-run second inning that he resorted to the rare move of calling his own pitches in the third. He dominated from there, finishing his start with a 1.58 ERA in a 4-3 Dodgers win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe intrigue began when Rushing allowed the Twins' first run of the game on a passed ball against Ryan Kreidler. Ohtani told reporters after the game a cross-up was responsible for the mistake, with Rushing expecting an offspeed pitch and getting a fastball.
In the same at-bat, Ohtani challenged a ball call on a low sweeper. Rushing immediately shook his head and appeared to voice an objection… then watched the umpires announce that Ohtani was correct.
The at-bat still resulted in a two-run single from Kreidler, giving the Twins the lead.
Once Ohtani took the mound in the third inning, he was calling his own pitches. He proceeded to dominate for the rest of his start, striking out six batters and allowing only two baserunners in the last four frames of his six-inning start.
AdvertisementAdvertisementRushing, meanwhile, did not appear to be enjoying life. During the top of the third inning, he was approached by Dodgers veteran Freddie Freeman, manager Dave Roberts, pitching coach Mark Prior and mental skills coach Bren Walker for an extended conversation on the bench.
In addition to the miscommunication with Ohtani, he finished the game 0-for-4 at the plate and visibly frustrated.
Rushing admitted it wasn't his best outing after the game:
"It was pretty embarrassing …. They always have my back. Once again, it's embarrassing that I need support like that. I'm a grown man. It's a pretty tough pill to swallow. Both sides of the ball, it was not a great showing. Hasn't been great as of late, I'm going to be better."
Ohtani made his first 10 starts of the season with Dodgers starting catcher Will Smith behind the plate. It was a fruitful partnership, with a 0.74 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 61 innings. However, Smith hit the injured list with neck inflammation earlier this month, leaving Rushing as the Dodgers' top catcher. Ohtani now has a 4.34 ERA in three starts with him behind the plate.
AdvertisementAdvertisementOhtani didn't deny there were communication issues after the game, via MLB.com:
"There's really two ways of communicating ... one is by words, but the other way to be able to communicate is by example, and just taking the charge and showing Rush what kind of pitching style I'm capable of … In an ideal world, where I want to be is [in a place] for both of us to pitch in and really be able to shine because we have very different talents. That's the goal I want to go towards."
On that note, Rushing confirmed he had "a better idea" of Ohtani's preferences.
Roberts, for his part, seemed happy with how things shook out:
"I don't think it was a blow [to his ego]," Roberts said regarding Ohtani taking over the pitch calling. "I actually think it freed [Rushing] up. I think that if there's ever any doubt, the pitcher always has the right of last refusal and can call his own game. So I think once we decided to do that, then it was pretty clean after that."
Keep in mind, this is all after a game the Dodgers won. They completed a three-game sweep of the Twins, improving their record to an MLB-best 52-29 with a nine-game cushion in the NL West.
Rushing is a former top 100 prospect who struggled in his rookie season last year then got off to a hot start in 2026. He's cooled down since, though, hitting .194 with only one homer since the start of May.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHe has also been no stranger to bizarre on-field stories. During the month of April, we saw the following incidents:
Rushing accusing the Colorado Rockies of doing something "fishy" (i.e. sign-stealing), only for manager Dave Roberts to dismiss the idea. Rushing got relentlessly mocked by the Rockies for the rest of the series.
Rushing being accused of saying "f*** 'em" after a play at the plate left San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee injured. He later denied saying that and said he cleared the air with Lee but still got a plunking.
Rushing hitting Giants shortstop Willy Adames with a retro takeout slide on a double-play ball in the next game.
Rushing calling Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya a "fat f***" in front of Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner
To put it politely, Rushing can be described as "a lot," but he's also shown some very real power and the Dodgers are probably going to still want his bat around and functional after Smith comes back. Warts and all.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
