Rortvedt isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Seattle.
Rortvedt will head to the bench Saturday after going 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts in Friday's series opener. Dalton Rushing will start behind the plate instead and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Out of lineup Thursday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Diamondbacks.
With Will Smith (hand) out and Dalton Rushing (shin) returning just last week, Rortvedt has served as the Dodgers' primary catcher this month. However, he'll get a breather in Thursday's finale while Rushing dons the catcher's gear.
... See More... See Less
Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Goes yard Tuesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.
The homer was Rortvedt's first of the season, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead in the seventh inning. He has seen steady playing time in September while filling in for Will Smith (hand). Over 15 games this month, Rortvedt has gone 11-for-40 (.275) with three extra-base hits and four RBI. He's up to a .275/.341/.400 slash line with 10 RBI, nine runs scored and three doubles across 117 plate appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Dealt to Dodgers
Rotowire
The Dodgers acquired Rortvedt on Wednesday in a three-team trade with the Rays and Reds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Dodgers will send Hunter Feduccia to Tampa Bay to receive Rortvedt and Paul Gervase, and Los Angeles will also bring in Adam Serwinowski from Cincinnati, which is receiving Zack Littell. Rortvedt has tallied just six hits in 63 big-league at-bats this season, and with a .598 OPS in Triple-A, he hasn't been particularly effective in the minors either. The 27-year-old will act as organizational depth at catcher and isn't likely to spend a lot of time in Los Angeles.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Goes unclaimed off waivers
Rotowire
Rortvedt accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham on Sunday after clearing waivers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt cleared waivers after Tampa Bay designated him for assignment Wednesday, and because he's logged more than three years of MLB service time, he had the ability to reject a minor-league assignment. After weighing his options, however, Rortvedt determined he was best suited remaining in the Tampa Bay organization. He's no longer on the Rays' 40-man roster but could get a call-up if Tampa Bay loses fellow catchers Danny Jansen or Matt Thaiss to an injury at any point.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: DFA'd by Tampa Bay
Rotowire
The Rays designated Rortvedt for assignment Wednesday.
Tampa Bay's acquisition of Matt Thaiss on Tuesday set the stage for Rortvedt to lose his place on the 26-man active roster and 40-man roster, though he still started Tuesday versus Minnesota and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. The 27-year-old backstop will now be exposed to waivers. Rortvedt is regarded as a good defender, but he posted a modest .620 OPS in 2024 and has been far less productive over 70 plate appearances this season, slashing .095/.186/.111.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting against righty
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Rortvedt had started each of the Rays' last five matchups against right-handed pitchers, but he'll give way to Danny Jansen behind the dish Sunday versus Chad Patrick. The arrangement between the two backstops hasn't been paying off lately; Rortvedt and Jansen have gone a combined 3-for-29 through the Rays' first nine games in May.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: May be in strong side of platoon
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Though he'll hit the bench Wednesday against Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez, but the left-handed-hitting Rortvedt may have taken control of a strong-side platoon role at catcher with Danny Jansen. Rortvedt has started in each of the Rays' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Playing time ticking up
Rotowire
Rortvedt went 1-for-3 with two RBI, a walk and a run scored Saturday against the Yankees.
Rortvedt drew his third start in five games, all of which have come at catcher and at the expense of Danny Jansen, who has just a .486 OPS through 53 plate appearances. Rortvedt is typically not much of a contributor at the plate himself however, and he now has two hits across 21 at-bats to begin 2025.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Getting fourth start of season
Rotowire
Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Angels.
Rortvedt will enter the lineup for just the fourth time this season, with Danny Jansen drawing the other eight starts behind the plate through the Rays' first 12 games. Jansen is slashing a lowly .038/.194/.038 through his 31 plate appearances, so Rortvedt could work his way into more of a timeshare if he can provide more of an offensive spark in his future starts.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Catching in Thursday's game
Rotowire
Rortvedt (shoulder) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After getting an injection to relieve pain in his sore right shoulder, Rortvedt had been limited to designated-hitter duties in his last two spring games, but he'll step in behind the plate Thursday for the first time since Feb. 23. Provided that the shoulder issue provides no complications with his throwing over the rest of the spring, Rortvedt will be part of a timeshare at catcher with Danny Jansen to open the season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Nursing sore shoulder
Rotowire
Rortvedt will be held out of action for a few days with right shoulder soreness, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
The Rays do not seem worried that it could be a long-term issue for the catcher. Rortvedt is projected to open the season as the backup behind Danny Jansen.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Grabbing seat Friday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Rortvedt is sporting an unsightly .136/.214/.173 batting line with a 32.6 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. He will yield to Logan Driscoll on Friday in the series opener.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup for Saturday's game against Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt will take a seat Saturday after going 0-for-3 with a walk during Friday's series opener. Logan Driscoll will start behind the dish instead and bat sixth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Taking seat Thursday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Twins.
Rortvedt caught the night game Wednesday, so he will be given some rest for Thursday's matinee. Logan Driscoll will do the catching for the Rays.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting down Tuesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt will get a day to regroup after going 1-for-7 in three games since returning from paternity leave. Alex Jackson will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.
Rortvedt was reinstated from the family emergency list Saturday, but he's absent from the starting nine against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Alex Jackson will bat ninth and fill in for Rortvedt behind the dish.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Back on active roster
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Rortvedt from the family emergency list Saturday.
Rortvedt was moved to the family emergency list Thursday so that he could spend more time with his family following the birth of his child. Now that he's returned to the team, he'll resume duties as Tampa Bay's primary catcher. Rob Brantly was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Shifted to family emergency list
Rotowire
The Rays transferred Rortvedt from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Per Whitaker, Rortvedt's new baby and the baby's mother are doing fine. This is a procedural move made so that he can spend more time with his family, as his three-game stay on the paternity list was set to run out. Rortvedt is expected to rejoin the Rays at some point on their road trip, potentially as soon as this weekend versus the Dodgers. Rob Brantly will remain on Tampa Bay's roster until Rortvedt returns.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Goes on paternity list
Rotowire
The Rays placed Rortvedt on the paternity list Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Rortvedt can miss up to three games while he tends to more important matters. Rob Brantly has been brought up from Triple-A Durham to help Alex Jackson out at catcher.
