MLB Network just threw some serious shade at Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith—and fans are not having it.
During a recent segment, MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger unveiled his ranking of the top nine catchers in baseball. While a Dodger did make the cut, it wasn’t the three-time World Series champion, three-time All-Star, and two-time All-MLB selection Will Smith. Instead, Amsinger gave the nod to Smith’s backup, Dalton Rushing, at the No. 9 spot.
The full list: Shea Langeliers, Drake Baldwin, Liam Hicks, Hunter Goodman, Adley Rutschman, Dillon Dingler, Iván Herrera, William Contreras, and Dalton Rushing.
“Look at the numbers. OPS is over 1.000, and you go, ‘Wait a minute, how is he not top five, Greg?’” Amsinger said, referencing Rushing’s hot start. “Well, of his 21 games, he’s only caught 13 times, so I really had to take that into consideration. Huge fan of the fiery youngster, but he’s only No. 9 on Greg’s list.”
Dodgers fans were quick to sound off, along with supporters of Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk, who were also left off the list entirely.
“Will Smith is the best catcher in baseball,” wrote @cali8059.
“Kirk, Smith and Raleigh? Are you kidding me, trash list,” added @MattShel1989.
To be fair, Rushing has been electric at the plate this season. Through 21 games, he’s slashing .302/.371/.667 with a 1.038 OPS, seven home runs, and 17 RBIs. Those numbers outpace Smith’s .270/.336/.374 slash line with three homers and 16 RBIs over 34 games in 2026.
But baseball isn’t just about offense. Smith remains the superior defender in several key areas, including pitch framing and blocking. While Rushing has a slightly faster pop time and is marginally better at throwing out base stealers, Smith’s all-around defensive game is still elite.
Amsinger acknowledged Rushing has only started 13 games behind the plate this season, leaving room for growth. But the reality is that the Dodgers already have a proven, elite catcher in Smith—a player with three World Series rings and a Game 7 walk-off home run in the 2025 Fall Classic.
So while Dalton Rushing is certainly a name to watch, leaving Will Smith off the top catchers list feels like a swing and a miss.