Catcher Ben Rortvedt Rejoins Dodgers for Another World Series Run

Just hours before the trade deadline, both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing were on the injured list. Rushing had stepped up as the starting catcher when Smith went down with a neck injury in June, but then Rushing suffered a UCL tear, leaving the Dodgers without their top two catchers for possibly the rest of the 2026 season. Rortvedt had been playing for Triple-A Syracuse after being designated for assignment in February.

With both catchers injured, the Dodgers made a last-minute trade with the New York Mets on Monday, sending right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott to New York in exchange for Rortvedt. After making his season debut with the Dodgers on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, Rortvedt discussed learning he was returning to Los Angeles, where he had joined at last season's trade deadline and played in four postseason games during the Dodgers' World Series title run.