Ben Rortvedt Bio
Benjamin Thomas Rortvedt (born September 25, 1997) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed hitting backstop, he has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Twins. Rortvedt is recognized across the league for his defensive skills behind the plate and his occasional pop at the plate.
Born and raised in Verona, Wisconsin, Rortvedt attended Verona Area High School before being selected by the Twins in the 2016 MLB Draft. Across multiple organizations, he has developed into a reliable defensive catcher with the ability to provide timely hitting. In 2025, he became a World Series champion as a member of the Dodgers.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Thomas Rortvedt was born on September 25, 1997, in Verona, Wisconsin, USA. He grew up in the Madison-area community and attended Verona Area High School, where he starred as a catcher for the Wildcats baseball program. His left-handed swing and natural defensive instincts behind the plate made him a notable prospect throughout his high school years.
As a senior at Verona Area High School, Rortvedt showcased exceptional hitting, slashing .444/.568/.667. That production drew national attention from college recruiters and professional scouts alike. Following his senior season, he committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas, one of the premier college baseball programs in the country.
Rather than enroll at Arkansas, Rortvedt elected to begin his professional career when the Minnesota Twins selected him in the second round, with the 56th overall pick, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Twins for a $900,000 signing bonus, formalizing his path to the major leagues.
Path to Major League Baseball
Rortvedt made his professional debut in 2016 with the Gulf Coast League Twins before being promoted to the Elizabethton Twins. In 33 games between the two clubs, he batted .222 with 10 RBIs. He spent 2017 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, where he compiled a .224 batting average with four home runs and 30 RBIs in 89 games, gaining valuable experience in the Midwest League.
In 2018, Rortvedt played for both Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle, slashing a combined .262/.331/.379 with five home runs and 43 RBIs in 90 total games between the two clubs. He returned to Fort Myers to begin the 2019 season and was promoted to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in May, finishing the year there. Over 79 games between the two teams, he hit .238/.334/.379 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.
Rortvedt did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Twins added him to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season, putting him on track for his first MLB opportunity.
Ben Rortvedt Career
Minnesota Twins Era (2021)
On April 30, 2021, Rortvedt was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting catcher against the Kansas City Royals. In the game, he recorded his first major league hit, an RBI single off Royals reliever Wade Davis. He had a total of 89 at-bats over 2021 with the Twins, batting .169/.229/.281 with three home runs and seven RBIs.
When not with the Twins, he played with the St. Paul Saints, slashing .254/.324/.426 with five home runs and 22 RBIs over 34 games. That performance showed the potential the Twins had seen when drafting him five years earlier. His debut season laid the foundation for the role he would play in subsequent years as a defense-first catcher.
New York Yankees Era (2022–2023)
On March 13, 2022, the Twins traded Rortvedt, Josh Donaldson, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the New York Yankees in exchange for Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela. An oblique injury that Rortvedt suffered before the trade limited his ability to play during spring training. He began the season on the injured list, and the Yankees acquired Jose Trevino. He was activated from the injured list and optioned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in late April. On May 18, Rortvedt underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee to repair a partially torn meniscus, with a recovery timetable of six-to-eight weeks. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on May 22.
The Yankees promoted him to the major leagues on September 9, 2022, when Trevino went on the paternity list, but optioned him back without playing in a game on September 12. During spring training in 2023, Rortvedt had an aneurysm in an artery near his right shoulder, requiring a surgical procedure. The Yankees promoted Rortvedt to the major leagues on May 18, 2023, when Trevino went on the injured list, and again on July 21, 2023, after Trevino went on the injured list to receive season-ending wrist surgery. He batted .118 in 32 games for the Yankees in 2023.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024–2025)
On March 27, 2024, the Yankees traded Rortvedt to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade in which the Miami Marlins traded Jon Berti to the Yankees and the Marlins received John Cruz and Shane Sasaki. In 112 appearances for the Rays in 2024, Rortvedt batted .228/.317/.303 with three home runs and a career-high 31 RBI. His work with the Rays helped him rebound from the injuries that had hampered his Yankees tenure.
Rortvedt played in 26 contests for Tampa Bay in 2025, going 6-for-63 (.095) with six RBI and seven walks. On May 28, 2025, Rortvedt was designated for assignment by the Rays. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on June 2, 2025.
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. As a result of injuries to the Dodgers’ two catchers, Will Smith and Dalton Rushing, he became the Dodgers’ starting catcher for most of September and batted .224 in 18 games for the Dodgers, with one home run and four RBI.
Smith was still hampered by injuries heading into the postseason, so Rortvedt was the Dodgers’ starting catcher for the Wild Card Series and the first half of the 2025 NLDS, before Smith eventually resumed his starting role. He had seven at-bats between the two series, with three hits (including a double), one RBI and two sacrifice bunts. Rortvedt was a member of the Dodgers team that won the 2025 World Series.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2025–Present)
On November 12, 2025, Rortvedt was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds. The move gave him a fresh start with a new organization following his World Series-winning campaign in Los Angeles. He joined a Reds club looking to add catching depth and veteran presence.
Rortvedt’s arrival in Cincinnati marked the fifth Major League organization of his career. His experience across the Twins, Yankees, Rays, Dodgers, and Reds franchises has given him a broad perspective on catching at the highest level.
Defensive Strengths and Catching Profile
Rortvedt is valued throughout MLB for his defensive skills behind the plate, including his receiving, blocking, and game-calling abilities. As a left-handed hitter, he provides occasional power at the plate and has shown he can produce in spurts, including his career-high 31 RBI season with the Rays in 2024. Across organizations, he has earned a reputation as a reliable defensive catcher who can step into a starting role when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Rortvedt’s career are his MLB debut with the Twins on April 30, 2021, and his first major league hit, an RBI single off Royals reliever Wade Davis. He became a World Series champion in 2025 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, serving as the team’s starting catcher during portions of the postseason run. His 2024 campaign with the Rays produced a career-high 31 RBI.
Ben Rortvedt Family
Family Background and Hometown Roots
Benjamin Thomas Rortvedt was born and raised in Verona, Wisconsin, a community located just outside Madison. He attended Verona Area High School, where he developed into one of the top catching prospects in the country. His roots in Wisconsin remain part of his identity as he continues his professional career across multiple MLB organizations.
Personal Life
Public details about Rortvedt’s personal life beyond his baseball career are limited. He has continued to focus on his craft as a Major League catcher, with stops in Minnesota, New York, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati shaping his journeyman professional path.
2025 Season Performance
Ben Rortvedt’s 2025 season was defined by significant movement across organizations. After beginning the year with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he played in 26 contests and posted a .095 batting average with six RBI, he was designated for assignment on May 28 and later sent outright to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on June 2. On July 31, the Rays traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers, opening the door to a postseason opportunity.
With the Dodgers, Rortvedt was added to the active roster on September 4 and became the starting catcher for most of September due to injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing. He batted .224 in 18 games for Los Angeles, with one home run and four RBI, and remained the starting catcher for the Wild Card Series and the first half of the 2025 NLDS before Smith resumed his starting role. Rortvedt recorded three hits, including a double, one RBI, and two sacrifice bunts across seven postseason at-bats.
Rortvedt concluded his 2025 campaign as a World Series champion with the Dodgers, then was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds on November 12, 2025, setting the stage for his next chapter. His ability to step into a starting role during a championship push underscored the defensive value he provides behind the plate.