Dodgers Add Four Players as Will Smith Returns, Then Designate 28-Year-Old Catcher for Assignment

The Los Angeles Dodgers brought four players onto their active roster on the first day of Major League Baseball’s September expansion, when teams can increase their rosters from 26 to 28 players.

Star catcher Will Smith, prospect catcher Dalton Rushing and left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski all returned from the injured list. The Dodgers also promoted 25-year-old switch-hitting infielder Alex Freeland.

To make room, Los Angeles optioned outfielder Alek Thomas to Triple-A and designated 28-year-old catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment. Rortvedt joined the Dodgers before this season’s trade deadline and played 16 games, producing one RBI and a .185 batting average.

Smith missed nearly three months with inflammation in a cervical disc and returned as the starting catcher. He had six home runs and 23 RBIs in 52 games this season, with a .249/.338/.382 batting line and a .720 OPS. He will share catching duties with 29-year-old Hunter Feduccia.

Rushing has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The injury leaves his ability to catch again this season uncertain, so he will currently play only as a hitter. In 74 games, he has hit 12 home runs and driven in 36 runs, with a .253/.335/.475 line and an .810 OPS.

Wrobleski went on the 15-day injured list in mid-August with left forearm inflammation. He returns with an 11-5 record and a 3.56 ERA in 21 appearances, including 20 starts. Freeland has mainly played second base and could face right-handed pitchers, giving Korean-American utility player Tommy Edman more opportunities in the outfield.