by Megan Garcia
The moment doesn’t stand out in the box score, but Ben Rortvedt’s mission in the seventh inning in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series was accomplished — move the runner over to second base on a sacrifice bunt.
But it represents what his role on the team has been since he arrived with the big league club on Sept. 4. He has often been referred to — in the most complimentary way — as a servant to his teammates first, regardless of how it may impact his numbers.
However, Rortvedt has been bigger than that. He’s been a difference maker.
“Ben has been an unsung hero. Just coming in here trying to replace an All-Star catcher,” said manager Dave Roberts.
Rortvedt went 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs in the Wild Card Series to begin his postseason career.
It was a continuation of an eye-opening run for the veteran catcher, who was acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline.
Rortvedt, who stepped in for Will Smith after he suffered a hairline fracture in his right hand on Sept. 3, proved to be trustworthy for the Dodger pitching staff and handy with the bat.
He had a 2.89 catcher’s ERA with the Dodgers.
And Game 2 wasn’t the first time Rortvedt showed his reliability to lay down a sacrifice bunt. He put down two bunts in his Dodger debut on Sept. 6, successfully moving runners over to score on subsequent plate appearances.
He also flashed some power to lift the Dodgers. His lone homer as a Dodger tied the score against the Diamondbacks on Sept. 23.
When Rortvedt stood in against Reds reliever Tony Santillan in the seventh inning, he already had two hits in the game. But the situation called for him to move a runner over. He did and it was the only offensive out he recorded in four plate appearances..
It kept the seventh going for the Dodgers to bring in two additional runs in their eventual 8–4 win on Wednesday over the Reds.
“He just understands who he is as a hitter. So, to be able to kind of move runners, see pitches, put the ball in play, get hits when we need him, he’s been fantastic,” Roberts said. “And he had big shoes to fill, but he’s done a great job with the fingers, the catching, all of it.”
He also scored on two doubles by Mookie Betts, one in the third and the other in the sixth.
“The little things make the big things (happen) in my opinion,” Rortvedt said. “Everyone — one through nine — they can do it. A lot of guys hit the long ball and get on base. We’re trying to do our part.”
About five hours before he was being sprayed with champagne by his teammates, Rortvedt was asked what it meant to him personally to be the Dodgers’ starting catcher in the Wild Card Series.
He responded that his answer wouldn’t change from the day before when he was posed a similar question.
“It’s really cool. I’ll take some time to reflect after it’s all said and done, but this is way bigger than myself,” he said. “We’re playing for what’s on the front, not on the back. We’re playing for everybody in that clubhouse, the city.”
With his October baseball T-shirt soaked and his eyes burning from the celebration, Rortvedt was asked if his answer had changed about how he personally felt about his opportunities in the postseason.
“No. It never will.” Rortvedt said.
2025 Postseason: Ben Rortvedt’s selflessness brings opportunity was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.