Rortvedt (shoulder) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After getting an injection to relieve pain in his sore right shoulder, Rortvedt had been limited to designated-hitter duties in his last two spring games, but he'll step in behind the plate Thursday for the first time since Feb. 23. Provided that the shoulder issue provides no complications with his throwing over the rest of the spring, Rortvedt will be part of a timeshare at catcher with Danny Jansen to open the season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Returns to action as DH on Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt (shoulder) went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.
Rortvedt played for the first time since receiving an injection in his sore right shoulder early last week, though he was limited to a non-defensive role. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rortvedt will be available off the bench again Monday versus Atlanta, but if called upon to play, the 27-year-old will most likely replace starting designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. According to MLB.com, the Rays are targeting Thursday's game versus the Phillies for Rortvedt's return to catching duty, assuming his throwing is no longer compromised by the shoulder issue.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Gets injection for sore shoulder
Rotowire
Rortvedt will not be allowed to throw for 3-to-4 days after receiving an injection Wednesday in his sore right shoulder, MLB.com reports.
The Rays are hopeful Rortvedt will be ready to return to Grapefruit League play shortly after the brief shutdown period. He's slated to open the season as the team's No.2 catcher behind Danny Jansen.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Nursing sore shoulder
Rotowire
Rortvedt will be held out of action for a few days with right shoulder soreness, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
The Rays do not seem worried that it could be a long-term issue for the catcher. Rortvedt is projected to open the season as the backup behind Danny Jansen.
The Rays and Rortvedt avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.125 million contract Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He was eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter. Rortvedt led Rays catchers with 328 plate appearances in 2024 but is slated to take a back seat to Danny Jansen in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.
After making four straight starts behind the dish, Rortvedt will yield to Logan Driscoll on Friday for the second time in three games. Rortvedt hasn't logged multiple hits in a game since Aug. 8.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Receiving rest Wednesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.
Rortvedt will get a breather after he went 2-for-7 with an RBI while starting behind the plate in each of the Rays' last three games. Logan Driscoll will fill in for Rortvedt at catcher.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Grabbing seat Friday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays.
Rortvedt is sporting an unsightly .136/.214/.173 batting line with a 32.6 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of August. He will yield to Logan Driscoll on Friday in the series opener.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Out of Tampa Bay lineup
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Red Sox.
It's a routine day off for Rortvedt. Logan Driscoll will handle the catching duties for the Rays in Tuesday's series opener.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in Saturday's lineup against the Guardians.
Rortvedt has been getting the majority of the reps behind the plate for the Rays, but he'll be out of the lineup for the second straight game. Logan Driscoll -- who smacked the first homer of his career Friday -- will take Rortvedt's spot in the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup for Saturday's game against Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt will take a seat Saturday after going 0-for-3 with a walk during Friday's series opener. Logan Driscoll will start behind the dish instead and bat sixth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Taking seat Thursday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Twins.
Rortvedt caught the night game Wednesday, so he will be given some rest for Thursday's matinee. Logan Driscoll will do the catching for the Rays.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Friday's game against San Diego.
With left-hander Martin Perez on the mound for the Padres, Rortvedt will yield to Alex Jackson behind the dish. Rortvedt has one hit in his last 23 at-bats.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Sitting down Tuesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt isn't in the Rays' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt will get a day to regroup after going 1-for-7 in three games since returning from paternity leave. Alex Jackson will fill in behind the dish and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.
Rortvedt was reinstated from the family emergency list Saturday, but he's absent from the starting nine against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Alex Jackson will bat ninth and fill in for Rortvedt behind the dish.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Back on active roster
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Rortvedt from the family emergency list Saturday.
Rortvedt was moved to the family emergency list Thursday so that he could spend more time with his family following the birth of his child. Now that he's returned to the team, he'll resume duties as Tampa Bay's primary catcher. Rob Brantly was DFA'd in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Shifted to family emergency list
Rotowire
The Rays transferred Rortvedt from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Per Whitaker, Rortvedt's new baby and the baby's mother are doing fine. This is a procedural move made so that he can spend more time with his family, as his three-game stay on the paternity list was set to run out. Rortvedt is expected to rejoin the Rays at some point on their road trip, potentially as soon as this weekend versus the Dodgers. Rob Brantly will remain on Tampa Bay's roster until Rortvedt returns.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Goes on paternity list
Rotowire
The Rays placed Rortvedt on the paternity list Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Rortvedt can miss up to three games while he tends to more important matters. Rob Brantly has been brought up from Triple-A Durham to help Alex Jackson out at catcher.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Resting Saturday
Rotowire
Rortvedt is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rortvedt will begin Saturday's game in the dugout after going 0-for-2 in Friday's contest. Alex Jackson will start behind home plate and bat ninth.
