Ben Rortvedt Bio
Benjamin Thomas Rortvedt (born September 25, 1997) is an American professional baseball catcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Los Angeles Dodgers, and most recently suited up in the New York Mets organization. Known for his work behind the plate, Rortvedt has built a career as a defensive catcher with occasional contributions at the plate. He was part of the Dodgers roster that won the 2025 World Series championship.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Thomas Rortvedt was born on September 25, 1997, in Verona, Wisconsin. He grew up in the same small city where he would later become a well-known high school athlete. Rortvedt attended Verona Area High School, where he played baseball and developed into one of the top catching prospects in the state of Wisconsin.
As a senior at Verona Area High School, Rortvedt showed strong offensive skills, slashing .444/.568/.667 across his final high school season. His performance drew attention from college recruiters around the country, and he ultimately committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas. His senior year established him as a legitimate professional prospect and set the stage for his entry into MLB.
Path to Baseball
Rortvedt’s path to professional baseball accelerated quickly after high school. Rather than enroll at Arkansas, he entered the 2016 MLB Draft, where the Minnesota Twins selected him in the second round with the 56th overall pick. The Twins signed him to a $900,000 signing bonus, convincing him to forgo his college commitment.
He made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Twins before moving up to the Elizabethton Twins. Over his first professional season, Rortvedt hit .222 with 10 runs batted in across 33 games between the two affiliates. His rapid climb through the minor leagues showed the Twins organization that he had the defensive tools and offensive upside to develop into a big-league catcher.
Ben Rortvedt Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Rortvedt spent his first full professional season in 2017 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, batting .224 with four home runs and 30 runs batted in over 89 games. The following year, he split time between Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle, posting a combined .262/.331/.379 slash line with five home runs and 43 runs batted in across 90 games.
In 2019, Rortvedt played for both Fort Myers and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, batting .238/.334/.379 with seven home runs and 29 runs batted in over 79 games. The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Twins added him to their 40-man roster after that year, recognizing his progress and projecting him as a future big-league contributor.
Minnesota Twins Era (2021–2022)
Rortvedt reached the major leagues for the first time on April 30, 2021, when the Twins promoted him to face the Kansas City Royals. He started at catcher that day and recorded his first major league hit, an RBI single off Royals reliever Wade Davis. Over the rest of the season, he appeared in 39 games for the Twins, batting .169/.229/.281 with three home runs and seven runs batted in.
On March 13, 2022, the Twins traded Rortvedt, along with Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, to the New York Yankees in exchange for Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela. An oblique injury suffered before the trade, followed by arthroscopic knee surgery on his left meniscus in May, limited his playing time that season. He spent most of 2022 in the minor leagues recovering and was promoted briefly to the majors in September without appearing in a game.
New York Yankees Era (2023)
During spring training in 2023, Rortvedt experienced a serious medical setback when an aneurysm was discovered in an artery near his right shoulder, requiring surgery. He returned to action later that spring and rejoined the Yankees’ major league roster on May 18, filling in at catcher while José Trevino was sidelined.
Rortvedt was recalled again on July 21 after Trevino went on the injured list for season-ending wrist surgery. In 32 games for the Yankees in 2023, he batted .118. Despite the low average, his presence gave the Yankees a reliable defensive option while they navigated injuries at the catching position.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024–2025)
On March 27, 2024, the Yankees traded Rortvedt to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal that also involved the Miami Marlins. In 112 appearances for the Rays in 2024, Rortvedt set a career high with 31 runs batted in, batting .228/.317/.303 with three home runs. His offense represented his most productive big-league season to that point.
Rortvedt played in 26 games for Tampa Bay in 2025, going 6-for-63 with six runs batted in and seven walks. On May 28, 2025, the Rays designated him for assignment, and he cleared waivers before being sent outright to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on June 2.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025)
On July 31, 2025, the Rays traded Rortvedt, Paul Gervase, and Adam Serwinowski to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Hunter Feduccia. After beginning with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, Rortvedt was added to the Dodgers’ active roster on September 4, 2025. With both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing dealing with injuries, he became the Dodgers’ starting catcher for most of September and batted .224 in 18 games, hitting one home run and driving in four runs.
Heading into the 2025 postseason, Smith was still hampered by injuries, and Rortvedt started at catcher for the Wild Card Series and the first half of the National League Division Series. He recorded three hits, including a double, along with one run batted in and two sacrifice bunts across seven at-bats. The Dodgers went on to win the 2025 World Series, making Rortvedt a World Series champion.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Rortvedt’s career came on April 30, 2021, when he recorded his first major league hit, an RBI single off Wade Davis of the Royals. His unexpected run as the Dodgers’ starting catcher during the 2025 postseason, following injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, also stands out as a defining chapter. Winning the 2025 World Series championship with the Dodgers capped a turbulent but rewarding stretch of his career.
Ben Rortvedt Career Wins
As a catcher, Ben Rortvedt’s statistical milestones are measured in offensive production and team accomplishments rather than traditional wins. Through the 2025 season, he has appeared in more than 200 major league games across four organizations, with his career-high 31 runs batted in coming during the 2024 season with the Tampa Bay Rays. His most significant team accomplishment is the 2025 World Series championship won as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ben Rortvedt Family
Personal Life
Little public information is available about Ben Rortvedt’s personal and family life beyond his upbringing in Verona, Wisconsin. He was born and raised in the same community where he attended Verona Area High School and first developed as a baseball player. Details about his parents, spouse, or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Ben Rortvedt’s 2025 season was a study in resilience and adaptability. He began the year with the Tampa Bay Rays but struggled at the plate, batting just .095 in 26 games before being designated for assignment in late May. After clearing waivers and spending time with the Durham Bulls, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of July as the team looked to add catching depth.
Once promoted to the Dodgers’ active roster in September, Rortvedt took advantage of injuries to the team’s regular catchers and became the primary starter behind the plate. He finished the regular season batting .224 in 18 games with the Dodgers, providing steady defense during the stretch run. His role carried into the postseason, where he started at catcher through the Wild Card Series and the early rounds of the National League Division Series.
The season concluded on a high note when the Dodgers won the 2025 World Series, awarding Rortvedt his first career championship. After being claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds in November 2025, he continued a busy offseason that saw him move between several organizations heading into 2026.
