Dodgers Activate Will Smith, Designate Ben Rortvedt

The Dodgers announced they’ve activated Will Smith, Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski from the injured list. L.A. also recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned center fielder Alek Thomas. Catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment to clear the necessary active roster spot and the 40-man spot for Smith, who had been on the 60-day injured list.

Smith returns after a near three-month absence due to disc inflammation in his neck. That was initially expected to be a fairly minor issue but proved much more problematic than hoped. Smith went on a rehab assignment last week and has appeared in five games with OKC, going 4-16 with a home run. He was batting .249/.338/.382 in a decent but slightly down season for the big league club.

Rushing has been out since deadline day with a partial UCL tear in his throwing elbow. He returns without any kind of rehab stint and will have a month to get up to speed before the postseason. Rushing hasn’t been cleared to throw and might not catch again this season. There won’t be many DH at-bats available either, but he’ll be a potent left-handed bat off the bench.

Los Angeles reacquired Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia to split the catching duties in August. Feduccia has been the superior offensive player and will stick around in the backup role behind Smith. The 28-year-old Rortvedt collected five hits (all singles) in 28 plate appearances. He’s a career .189/.275/.266 hitter in 243 MLB games.

The Dodgers will place Rortvedt on waivers this week. They’re surely hoping he’ll clear and accept an assignment back to OKC as organizational depth for the final month and change. There’s a decent chance that’ll happen, as Rortvedt is out of options and would otherwise need to be added to a claiming team’s active roster. Even if he accepts a minor league assignment for September and October, he’d qualify for minor league free agency at the beginning of the offseason.