Dave Roberts proclaimed an unexpected hero within theLos Angeles Dodgers a few days before facing thePhiladelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series in the 2025 MLB playoffs.
The Blue Jays‘ manager in the Wild Card Series praised one of his players after beating the Cincinnati Reds and qualifying for the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Dave Roberts has his accidental hero in Dodgers’ 2025 MLB playoffs
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called Ben Rortvedt an “unsung hero” and praised the catcher, who has replaced starting catcher Will Smith while he recovers from a bruised bone in his hand
“Ben has been an unsung hero. Just coming in here trying to replace an All-Star catcher. He has the confidence of the pitchers. He’s a server first. He receives well. He throws well. He just understands who he is as a hitter. So to be able to move runners, see pitches, put the ball in play, get hits when we need them. He’s been fantastic. And he had big shoes to fill, but he’s done a great job with the fingers, the receiving, everything.”, Dave Roberts.
In the final game of the Wild Card Series
Ben Rortvedt went two-for-three with a double and two runs in the Dodgers’ final wild-card game against the Cincinnati Reds, and also recorded a hit and an RBI in Tuesday’s opener. He and Kike Hernandez were fantastic at the bottom of the order throughout the series and were a key part of the Dodgers’ success.
Aside from the offense that Ben Rortvedt has provided since joining the lineup, the catcher has also demonstrated solid defensive capabilities, recording a Catcher Framing Runs and a Catcher Blocking Runs of plus-1 in his limited time in the majors this season.
Called to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Ben Rortvedt was called up to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers after Will Smith’s injury and had to be the starting catcher after Dalton Rushing was also injured shortly after Will Smith.
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