MLB Network Shades Will Smith with Catchers Ranking

“Will Smith is the best catcher in baseball,” wrote @cali8059.

“Kirk, Smith and Raleigh? Are you kidding me, trash list,” added @MattShel1989.

Comparing Will Smith and Dalton Rushing

In a world without Smith, Rushing definitely warrants consideration.

He’s slashing .302/.371/.667/1.038 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in his 21 games this season.

Those figures outdo Smith, who’s slashing .270/.336/.374/.710 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 34 games in 2026.

What Amsinger appears to be disregarding, though, is defense.

Baseball Savant indicates that Rushing’s pop time is 0.05 seconds faster and slightly better at catching stealing runners, but otherwise, Smith is the better defender, especially in framing pitches and blocking past balls and wild pitches.

As Amsinger noted, Rushing has only gotten 13 games behind home plate in 2026, and it’s likely he could improve further with more opportunities.

The problem, though, is that the Dodgers already have an elite catcher in Smith, who again has three World Series titles and has been an All-Star for three straight years.

He also hit the game-winning home run in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.

So yes, through the first quarter or so of the 2026 regular season, Dalton Rushing is performing better than Will Smith at the plate.

But as a catcher, a veteran presence and a leader in the clubhouse, Smith definitely has the edge over the younger Rushing.

Do you think Will Smith belongs on the MLB Network list.