Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Ben Rortvedt was born September 25, 1997, in Verona, Wisconsin. He is a catcher in the MLB.

Rortvedt attended Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin. As a senior, he slashed .444/.568/.667. He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round (56th overall) of the 2016 MLB draft. He signed with the Twins for $900,000, forgoing his commitment to the University of Arkansas.

Rortvedt made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Twins before being promoted to the Elizabethton Twins. In 33 games between the two clubs, he batted .222 with ten RBIs. He spent 2017 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he compiled a .224 batting average with four home runs and 30 RBIs in 89 games, and 2018 with both Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle, slashing a combined .262/.331/.379 with five home runs and 43 RBIs in 90 total games between the two clubs. He returned to Fort Myers to begin the 2019 season, and was promoted to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in May, with whom he finished the year. Over 79 games between the two teams, he hit .238/.334/.379 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.

During spring training in 2023, Rortvedt had an aneurysm in an artery near his right shoulder, requiring a surgical procedure. The Yankees promoted Rortvedt to the major leagues on May 18 when Trevino went on the injured list.