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Dodgers Finalize Catcher Shakeup With Ben Rortvedt Move
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- Dodgers Finalize Catcher Shakeup With Ben Rortvedt Move
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially added two catchers to the roster after moving on from their two emergency options.
At the trade deadline, the Dodgers traded for Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt , bringing in two familiar catchers into the fold.
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They were forced to do so as Dalton Rushing ended up on the injured list and Will Smith has been out for multiple weeks.
Rushing is dealing with right arm irritation, leading to a 15-day IL stint at the very least , while Smith is three to four weeks away from returning, at the earliest.
Oct 26, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Ben Rortvedt (47) during World Series workouts prior to game three against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium.
With the two top options out for the foreseeable future, the Dodgers were forced to make moves. LA traded for the two catchers who were on the team last year.
The Dodgers announced that Hunter Feduccia had been added to the 40-man roster following his trade, while Ben Rortvedt's contract was selected.
To make room for both players, Eliezer Alfonzo and Chuckie Robinson were both moved out of the picture, with Alfonzo getting demoted down to Triple-A and Robinson being designated for assignment, the team announced.
Sep 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Hunter Feduccia (67) removes his facemask between plays against the Colorado Rockies during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium.
What can the Dodgers expect from Rortvedt and Feduccia?
Last season, in 44 games, Rortvedt hit .152/.240/.205 with a home run and put up a lackluster 31 wRC+. He was worth -0.5 fWAR due to his poor hitting, but he was solid defensively and had success helping the pitchers call the game.
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Feduccia has been hitting the ball relatively well this year for the Tampa Bay Rays in limited work. He has a .234/.306/.340 with a 82 wRC+.
His offensive rating is still below average, but it is much better than what Rortvedt produced last year, while his defensive rating is above average as well.
Both seem to offer a good deal of protection behind the dish, while Feduccia is in a better spot in terms of hitting.
While they are not the long-term options, it will be interesting to see if Rortvedt's struggles continue at the plate and if it allows Feduccia the chance to steal some more playing time.
