The Cincinnati Reds bolstered their catching depth by claiming Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The 28-year-old backstop, known for his defensive skills, joins a crowded group behind the plate for the Reds. Rortvedt brings experience from multiple teams but limited offensive production.
CINCINNATI -- The Reds added to their catching corps on Wednesday when they claimed Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Dodgers. Rortvedt, who is out of Minor League options, is viewed as a defense-first catcher who excels at pitch framing and game calling. As a left-handed hitter, he has not provided much offensively over his four-year big league career.
In 44 games this season split between the Rays and Dodgers, Rortvedt batted .152 with one home run and 10 RBIs. The 28-year-old opened the year with Tampa Bay before being dealt to Los Angeles on July 31 as part of a three-team trade that sent starting pitcher Zack Littell to Cincinnati. He appeared in games down the stretch, filling in for the injured Will Smith, including both National League Wild Card Series contests against the Reds and two NL Division Series games versus the Phillies.
Across 227 career games with the Twins (2021), Yankees (2023), Rays (2024-25) and Dodgers, Rortvedt owns a .190 batting average, .549 OPS and nine home runs. With the move, he joins Tyler Stephenson, Jose Trevino and Will Banfield as catchers on the Reds' 40-man roster, which now stands at 37 players.