Dodgers selected contract of former Twins catcher Ben Rortvedt
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of catcher Ben Rortvedt on Thursday, the team announced. The Dodgers optioned infielder Alex Freeland as a corresponding move and designated former All-Star closer Alexis Díaz to create space for Rortvedt on the 40-man roster.
Although the Dodgers already have two catchers on their roster in All-Star Will Smith and rookie Dalton Rushing, the organization still wanted to add a third catcher to the big-league roster since Smith suffered a right hand contusion after taking a foul ball off the back of his hand in the second inning of the Dodgers' 3-0 loss to the Pirates on Wednesday at PNC Park. Smith will avoid the injured list for now, but he isn't expected to play in Los Angeles' upcoming series in Baltimore, according to MLB's Sonja Chen.
Rortvedt made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2021. He appeared in 39 games for Minnesota in 2021, slashing .169/.229/.281 for a 41 wRC+ with three home runs in 90 plate appearances.
Rortvedt's time with the Twins was short, as Minnesota traded him to the New York Yankees along with third baseman Josh Donaldson and utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa in exchange for catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela in March 2022.
Rortvedt's time in the major leagues with the Yankees was even shorter than his tenure with the Twins, as the catcher appeared in just 32 games for New York in 2023, slashing .118/.241/.221 for a 34 wRC+ with two homers over 79 plate appearances.
The Yankees traded Rortvedt to the Tampa Bay Rays in March 2024. He appeared in 112 games for Tampa Bay last year, posting 1.4 fWAR and a .228/.317/.303 (87 wRC+) slash line with three home runs in 328 plate appearances. He struggled with the Rays this season, hitting just .095 across 78 plate appearances before being designated for assignment, which led to him playing in the minors for the Rays until he was traded to the Dodgers on July 31 with right-handed pitcher Paul Gervase and left-handed pitcher Adam Serwinowski in exchange for first baseman Hunter Feduccia.
Rortvedt made his Dodgers debut on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, entering in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement for Rushing. Rortvedt had his first Dodgers plate appearance on Thursday with two outs in the ninth inning, runners on first and second base and Los Angeles trailing by two runs. The former Twins catcher proceeded to strike out swinging on an 0-2 count to complete the series sweep for the Pirates.