...
By Shaun McAvoy
Contributing Sports Writer
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Despite failing to meet initial expectations of a 100-win season, the Los Angeles Dodgers still won their division and won their way to the second round of the playoffs.
The Dodgers swept the Cincinnati Reds in the first round, even with all of the injuries that have plagued the team. One player absent from the series was catcher Will Smith, who suffered a hairline fracture in his throwing hand in early September.
Though he was deemed available for the wild card series against the Reds, Smith did not end up playing. With Dalton Rushing also unavailable, Los Angeles had to turn to backup catcher Ben Rortvedt to start in the playoffs.
Read More on MLB
While speaking to reporters following their Game 2 victory over the Reds, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Rortvedt as an "unsung hero" of the wild card round.
...
"Ben has been an unsung hero," Roberts told reporters Wednesday. "Just coming in here trying to replace an All-Star catcher. He has the trust in the pitchers. He's a servant first. He receives well. He throws well.
"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. And he had big shoes to fill, but he's done a great job with the fingers, the catching, all of it."
In two games, Rortvedt went 3-for-6 with a double, two runs and an RBI. The 28-year-old performed admirably to round out Los Angeles' lineup and Roberts noticed. With Smith's availability for the NLDS still up in the air, the Dodgers will likely look to Rortvedt again as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies.
More MLB: Mets Could Cut Ties With 2-Time All-Star After 8 Seasons via Trade
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines