Ahead of the Dodgers' series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the final game of a three-game set before heading to Baltimore to wrap up their six-game road trip, the team announced a roster shuffle. Los Angeles selected catcher Ben Rortvedt, while designating reliever Alexis Díaz for assignment and optioning infielder Alex Freeland back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The move likely comes in response to Will Smith’s injury. The Dodgers’ All-Star catcher suffered a right-hand contusion in the second inning after being struck by a foul ball and exited the game in the third, with Daulton Rushing taking over behind the plate. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the X-rays came back negative, and Smith is considered day-to-day.
Still, the timing couldn’t be worse. Smith has been one of the most productive catchers in baseball this season, slashing .296/.405/.497 with 17 home runs and a .902 OPS. His presence in the middle of the order has been vital for a Dodgers lineup that has dealt with injuries all year.
Rushing, who has served as Smith’s backup, has yet to replicate that level of offensive production. In 43 games, the rookie is batting just .196 with a .256 on-base percentage and a .549 OPS. While the Dodgers remain high on his long-term potential, his inconsistency since being called up has limited his impact. With more consistent playing time in Smith’s absence, the hope is that Rushing can find his rhythm at the plate.
Regarding Alexis Diaz and Alex Freeland, who were subsequently DFA’d and optioned as part of this move, for Diaz, the move comes as he has continued to struggle throughout this season. Once considered a very talented pitcher and the brother of Mets closer Edwin Diaz, Alexis has been unable to resolve his issues or regain his earlier promising form. In the nine innings he pitched for the Dodgers, Diaz posted a 5.00 ERA and a WHIP of just 1.00.
While it’s certainly disappointing to see such potential go to waste, the Dodgers ultimately had to part ways with him in favor of a backup catcher, Rortvedt. As for Alex Freeland, the Dodgers infielder, he has also struggled at the major league level. The reinstatement of Kike Hernandez and Hyeseong Kim made it harder to justify keeping Freeland on the active roster. Although he provided versatility by playing around the infield, his offensive production was lacking, posting a .190 batting average and a .292 OBP. Overall, Freeland struggled during his time in the big leagues, and with veterans returning, a move was necessary, that move being sending Freeland down.
For the Dodgers, losing Smith is a significant setback at a critical stretch of the season. While reinforcements like Tommy Edman and Max Muncy are expected back soon, Smith’s absence leaves a major void. If his injury lingers longer than expected, it could seriously impact the Dodgers’ chances of capturing the division down the stretch.