Rortvedt (shoulder) began running last week, but he's not close to being able to swing a bat, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports.
Rortvedt underwent surgery on his left shoulder in late February. He was expected to be held out of baseball activities for at least a month, and he'll presumably need considerable time to ramp up once he's able to start swinging again. Rortvedt isn't expected to return to game action until at least May.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Gets surgery Wednesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt (finger) underwent surgery Wednesday to address an aneurysm near his left shoulder and isn't expected to resume baseball activities for at least one month, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, the procedure addressed a circulation issue in his shoulder, which had been affecting his finger. Given that he won't be cleared in time to play in Grapefruit League games, Rortvedt appears likely to open the 2023 season on the injured list. The 25-year-old looked like a candidate to open the previous season as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher, but after suffering an oblique injury last spring and then undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in May, he didn't debut for the big club in 2022.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Held out again Tuesday
Rotowire
Rortvedt (finger) was unable to return to workouts as hoped Tuesday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old is still having his finger injury evaluated by a specialist and the Yankees hope to have more clarification Wednesday. Rortvedt -- who missed much of 2022 with a knee injury -- is competing this spring to be the backup behind Jose Trevino.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Managing finger issue
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Rortvedt is tending to a finger injury, but the catcher is expected to return to camp Tuesday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
Boone didn't elaborate on the extent of Rortvedt's finger injury, though it's believed to be only a minor concern. The injury may nonetheless keep Rortvedt from being ready to go when the Yankees open their Grapefruit League schedule Saturday versus the Phillies. Rortvedt looks like he'll get the chance to compete for the No. 2 catcher role in spring training, but Kyle Higashioka presumably has the inside track on the gig after handling those duties for much of the 2022 season.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Sent back down
Rotowire
Rortvedt was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Sunday's win over the Rays.
Rortvedt provided depth behind the dish for the Yankees during their weekend series against the Rays but didn't appear in any games. He'll head back to the minors since Jose Trevino is expected to return from the paternity list ahead of Tuesday's series opener against Boston.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Called up Friday
Rotowire
Rortvedt was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
Rortvedt has yet to appear in the big leagues this year and has hit .215 with four home runs, 17 RBI and 16 runs over 30 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He should provide depth behind the dish while Jose Trevino is on the paternity list.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Activated, sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rortvedt (knee) was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
Rortvedt has been on the shelf since mid-May after undergoing knee surgery, but he's been deemed healthy after an 11-game rehab assignment. The 24-year-old may not see an opportunity in the big leagues this year while Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka remain healthy.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Rehab shifted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Rortvedt (knee) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
Rortvedt has been out since May 8 after suffering a left knee injury while rehabbing and has yet to make his season debut for the Yankees following the team acquiring him from the Twins via trade in March. He appears to be nearing a return though, joining Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after he went 1-for-12 with three runs and three walks over four contests with High-A Hudson Valley.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Hitless in rehab appearance
Rotowire
Rortvedt (knee) went 0-for-2 with a walk in a rehab appearance with High-A Hudson Valley on Tuesday.
This was technically Rortvedt's third rehab game this season, but it was his first since he picked up a knee injury May 8. The backstop underwent arthroscopic surgery for that issue, which came on the heels of an oblique strain that caused him to miss all of spring training and the first month of the regular season. Rortvedt could work his way up to the majors at some point if he performs well while rehabbing, but he'll likely need an extended minor-league assignment considering the amount of time he has missed.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Begins rehabbing at High-A
Rotowire
Rortvedt (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Hudson Valley on Tuesday.
Rortvedt has resided on the Yankees' injured list all season and has played only two games in the minors, which both came during his initial rehab assignment last May before he was shut down after requiring arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The young backstop has made a full recovery from the oblique injury that first forced him to the IL coming out of spring training, but he'll likely be in line for an extended rehab assignment as he looks to prove he's 100 percent healthy following knee surgery. Once he's activated from the IL, Rortvedt could challenge Kyle Higashioka for the Yankees' No. 2 catching job, as Jose Trevino appears locked in atop the depth chart after recently earning a spot on the American League All-Star team.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Nearing game action
Rotowire
Rortvedt (knee) took live batting practice Saturday and has been increasing his running, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports. "I would say he's probably getting close to being ready for some game action," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday.
Rortvedt hasn't yet played this season after the Yankees acquired him in a trade with Minnesota in mid-March. The backstop was dealing with an oblique issue at the time of the deal, and he later picked up a knee injury that required surgery while rehabbing in May. Rortvedt was expected to compete for the primary catcher job when he was first dealt to New York, but Jose Trevino has hit well enough (.743 OPS) that such an opportunity may have passed, at least for this season.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Sheds crutches
Rotowire
Rortvedt (knee) was walking normally without crutches Friday, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Rortvedt underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee May 18, and it was encouraging to see him regain his mobility less than two weeks after the procedure. The catcher is hopeful that he'll be able to return to game action in 4-to-6 weeks, which puts him in line with his initial recovery timetable of mid-to-late July.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Yankees transferred Rortvedt (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Rortvedt, who has been on the shelf all season, recently underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery and may not be available until after the All-Star break, so the move to the 60-day IL won't affect his recovery timeline. Instead, the transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow catcher Rob Brantly, who re-signed with the Yankees and had his contract selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when New York placed backstop Kyle Higashioka on the COVID-19-related injured list prior to Sunday's doubleheader with the White Sox.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Could need surgery
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Rortvedt could require surgery to address his knee injury, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Rortvedt was placed on the injured list prior to Opening Day due to a right oblique strain, but his minor-league rehab assignment at Single-A Tampa was halted earlier this month on account of an unrelated knee issue. The Yankees haven't specified which of the knees is a concern for Rortvedt, though Boone noted that the young backstop has dealt with a knee issue in the past. Rortvedt is expected to undergo an MRI this week, which should provide more clarity on the extent of his knee injury while also aiding the Yankees' decision on whether or not he needs surgery.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Rehab paused due to knee injury
Rotowire
Rortvedt's minor-league rehab assignment has stalled due to a new knee issue, and he is slated to get an MRI soon, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.
Rortvedt missed the start of the campaign due to an oblique injury, but that issue has since subsided, and the catcher was able to start a minor-league rehab assignment with Single-A Tampa. However, he played in only two games before feeling discomfort in his knee, and he hasn't returned to the field since the issue flared up May 8. Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggested that the organization is uncertain about the extent of the injury, stating, "We're kind of trying to get our hands wrapped around that. He caught the other day and the knee was kind of catching on him a little bit. So we got to see what we have there." Boone also indicated that Rortvedt will get an MRI on the ailing knee, which should provide clarity about his status moving forward.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Rortvedt (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Tampa on Saturday.
Rortvedt has been dealing with a Grade 1 oblique strain since mid-March, and he began the regular season on the 10-day injured list. Since the backstop didn't appear in any Grapefruit League matchups this spring, he'll presumably play in several rehab games before rejoining the Yankees. Kyle Higashioka and Jose Trevino haven't been particularly effective behind the plate early in the year, so Rortvedt should have a chance to compete for playing time once he's cleared to return.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Ready to ramp up work
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Rortvedt (oblique) is a "full-go" for batting practice and defensive work, Jordan Wolf of MLB.com reports.
Rortvedt recently had imaging performed that showed no sign of the right oblique strain that has kept him out of game action so far this season, and he appears ready to start increasing his baseball activity in anticipation of a return. Boone noted that the backstop isn't yet prepared to face live pitching or embark on a rehab assignment, but the manager also suggested that Rortvedt could be "getting close to that." Primary catcher Kyle Higashioka is batting only .136 this season, and Jose Trevino hasn't done much better at .208, so Rortvedt could get a shot to show what he can do with the Yankees when he's able to return.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Not yet playing in games
Rotowire
According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Rortvedt (oblique) is "doing pretty well, but [is] not ready to play in any games yet," Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rortvedt's oblique strain was a known issue prior to the Yankees trading for him in mid-March, and he has gradually been working his way back from the injury since that time. The backstop has been cleared fully for defensive work and recently underwent imaging that showed no trace of the strain, but he was briefly backed off his hitting work after experiencing discomfort. Boone indicated Friday that Rortvedt is "over the injury now," so he could progress to batting-practice drills soon. A return in early May appears to be plausible but not certain.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Plans to ramp up activity
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone said that Rortvedt (oblique) will "significantly" increase his hitting activity Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rortvedt underwent recent imaging that showed no lingering signs of the strained right oblique that shut him down early in spring training, so he'll begin ramping up in preparation for making his season debut. The young catcher had already been cleared fully for defensive work, so he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment within a few days if he responds well to facing live pitching. Rortvedt is seemingly on track to come off the 10-day injured list at some point in the second half of April.
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Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
The Yankees placed Rortvedt (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
The move can be backdated three days, making Rortvedt eligible to return April 14. It's unclear if he'll be ready at that point, however, as his strained right oblique kept him from playing in any Grapefruit League games. Kyle Higashioka and Jose Trevino will open the season as the Yankees' catchers.
