The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t have the most ideal circumstances that led to the emergence of catcher Ben Rortvedt, but since he has been up with the team, LA has been pleasantly surprised.
From landing a spot in Triple-A Oklahoma City via an under-the-radar trade at the deadline, to eventually catching games for the defending champions of the baseball world looking to get back to the World Series, it has been a whirlwind, to say the least.
Rortvedt has also had the once in a lifetime opportunity of catching for future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw during his brief time with the team, and spoke to Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain about the nerves he (rightfully) felt before doing so.
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“I remember the first time I caught him I was pretty nervous, actually,” said Rortvedt. “I got behind the plate and I was like, ‘Alright, it’s another pitcher, but this is very important.'”
Rortvedt also touched on his connection with longtime backstop to Kershaw, A.J. Ellis, and the bond the two now have because of their catching work for the future Hall of Famer.
“It’s funny, back in the day I see videos and he’s throwing to A.J. Ellis, and I know A.J. from back home, so talking to A.J. about Kersh and how good of a teammate he was, how great of a pitcher, and now going full circle and I’m here and I’ve kind of seen it myself, it’s been really really cool,” Rortvedt said.
Above all, Rortvedt knows how special it is to not only share a clubhouse with Kershaw, but to spend so much time with him at the twilight of his career. Of Kershaw’s past teammates, a fraction have had the pleasure of catching for him, something Rortvedt will likely remember for years to come.
“It’s crazy, I have not been here long, so I can’t speak to as much as these guys have, but everyone knows Clayton Kershaw. Everyone knows Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers. It’s really incredible to see someone pitch as long as he has in the same place at the level he has done, if you really sit back and, it’s incredible and to be here and be able to catch him a couple of times is an absolute honor.”
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Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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