When the Dodgers pulled off a three-team deal at the trade deadline, few expected catcher Ben Rortvedt to play much of a role for the Dodgers, mainly seen as a depth piece and remembered more for his defense than his bat, Rortvedt was thought to be a player who could help the trade go through, not someone who would suddenly matter in a postseason chase.
Fast forward to September, and the narrative has changed. Rortvedt hasn’t just blended in — he’s earned high praise from manager Dave Roberts and has carved out a role that could make the Dodgers’ October decisions even more interesting.
Roberts has described himself as “over the moon” with what Rortvedt has brought behind the plate. Known first for his defense, the 27-year-old has quickly gained the trust of a pitching staff that thrives on precision and rhythm. “The way he catches it, the calling of the game, and then the at-bat quality… every at-bat is a good at-bat,” Roberts explained. “He’s gotten some big hits for us, some big walks, he can lay down a bunt if we need it.”
What makes Rortvedt’s emergence even more impressive is how seamlessly he’s fit into a staff full of high expectations. Pitchers often take months, sometimes years, to build trust with a new catcher. But in just a matter of weeks, Roberts noted, Rortvedt has “assimilated with our guys and built trust… in such a short time.”
And while his defensive reputation was already established, his offensive production has been a pleasant surprise. Since arriving in L.A., Rortvedt is hitting .290 with a .371 on-base percentage, showing a level of consistency that the Rays didn’t see during his brief stint in Tampa Bay. For a player once considered a secondary piece, those numbers suggest he’s becoming far more than just a defensive specialist.
The Dodgers still belong to Will Smith behind the plate — an All-Star and one of the most reliable hitters in the lineup. But Rortvedt’s emergence gives the club something it has lacked in recent seasons: a reliable second catcher who can handle elite arms while also chipping in offensively.
With October on the horizon, the question now is whether Rortvedt’s steady play has earned him more than just praise, perhaps even a spot on the Dodgers’ postseason roster.