RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Ben Rortvedt is back with the Los Angeles Dodgers just in time for another World Series championship run.
Just hours before the trade deadline, both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing were on the injured list. Rushing stepped up as the starting catcher for the Dodgers when Smith went down with a neck injury in June. But with Rushing on the IL with a UCL tear, the Dodgers had lost both their starting and backup catcher for possibly the remainder of the 2026 season.
Rortvedt had been playing with Triple-A Syracuse this season after the Dodgers designated him for assignment in February.
Missing both Smith and Rushing, the Dodgers made a last-minute trade deal with the New York Mets for Rortvedt on Monday. In exchange for Rortvedt, Los Angeles traded right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott.
After making his season debut with the Dodgers on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, Rortvedt opened up about learning he was going back to the Dodgers.
Rortvedt initially joined Los Angeles at last season's trade deadline and played in four postseason games during the Dodgers' World Series title run.
"I was falling asleep and got that phone call so I didn't fall asleep for a little bit after that," Rortvedt said on SportsNet LA. "Pretty excited, couldn't draw it up better. This is where I wanted to be to start the year."
Now, Rortvedt is not only back to playing in the Big Leagues for the first time this season but back with the team he won his first World Series title with in 2025.
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