Will Smith is back, baby! After three months sidelined, the Dodgers activated their main man catcher, Will Smith, off the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Neck inflammation kept him out, but he’s officially in the lineup, ready to provide the spark the team desperately needs with roster limits expanding to 28 players and 14 pitchers.
The Return of the Backstop Savior
Smith absolutely crushed it in his rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City. In five games last week, he went 4-for-16 at the plate, including a home run and two doubles, hitting .250/.250/.563. He caught 25 innings behind the plate in four games, and even got a designated hitter game in. This isn’t just *a* return, it’s *the* return. Let’s be real, without Smith since June 5, the Dodgers’ catchers have been straight-up struggling. We’re talking a combined .219/.283/.347 slash line, a measly 74 wRC+ which ranks 25th in all of MLB, and a -0.1 FanGraphs WAR, 26th among all 30 teams. Oof. To make room for Smith on both the 40-man and active rosters, Ben Rortvedt got designated for assignment. No surprise there, given the situation.
More Arms, More Bats, More Rortvedt Drama
But wait, there’s more! The Dodgers also activated catcher Dalton Rushing and pitcher Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, and called up infielder Alex Freeland. Rushing’s back as an extra left-handed bat, but we gotta watch that partially torn UCL. Will he be limited to pinch-hitting duties as he works his way back? Wrobleski, after missing two-plus weeks with left forearm inflammation, made one rehab appearance with Oklahoma City on Saturday, getting four outs in a planned relief spot. He allowed one run on three hits with two strikeouts, throwing 34 pitches. Freeland, who made the opening day roster and played the first five weeks of the season in the majors, then another two months from late May until he was optioned in July, is back. He’s still the team leader on the season with 6. And Alek Thomas got optioned to Triple-A, which likely means a lot more center field for Tommy Edman while Andy Pages is still sidelined with his broken left hand.
Now, about Rortvedt. That guy has been on a rollercoaster. The Dodgers snagged him from the Mets right before the August 3 trade deadline, and he filled in behind the plate for four weeks, starting nine of the last 24 games. But his bat wasn’t there, with just five singles in 27 at-bats, hitting .185/.185/.185. He’s out of options, which means we’re seeing the Rortvedt waiver dance again. Remember last November? Dodgers tried to sneak him through waivers, the Reds claimed him. Then the Dodgers claimed him back in February, only to lose him to the Mets nine days later. Wild! If he clears waivers this time, he could actually stick around for the Dodgers’ postseason run, since he was in their organization by September 1. Talk about commitment, even if it’s forced!
So, what’s next? With these roster moves, especially getting Smith back, the Dodgers are clearly gearing up for the home stretch. These guys, especially Smith, Rushing, and Wrobleski, could be massive for a team looking to hit its stride. It’s time to see if these additions can make the difference heading into the late season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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