# Dodgers Activate Will Smith, Designate Ben Rortvedt

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-01 21:29 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 19 · Current Velocity: 29.42

## Executive Summary
Dodgers overhaul their September roster, reinstating catcher Will Smith while cutting backup Ben Rortvedt.

## Intelligence Brief
Dodgers officials reportedly seized the opportunity to reinforce the bench ahead of the Cardinals series, as noted by NBC Sports and MLB.com. CBS Sports highlighted Rushing’s role as a bench bat, while roundtable.io framed the moves as part of the broader September refresh.


Coverage varies on the rationale for cutting Rortvedt; none of the reports explain whether performance, roster flexibility, or contract considerations drove the decision. MLB Trade Rumors noted the designation but offered no further detail.


The next roster move remains unclear, as the Dodgers have yet to comment on potential promotions from Triple‑A or further bullpen adjustments.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Which players did the Dodgers activate from the injured list?
Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, Alex Freeland and Justin Wrobleski were activated.

### What roster rule allowed the Dodgers to make these additions?
The September roster expansion, which permits clubs to carry up to 28 players, enabled the moves.

### Who was designated for release and what details are provided about that decision?
Backup catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for release; reports do not disclose the specific reasons.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Dodgers, Cardinals, Will Smith, Dodgers Activate Will Smith Designate Ben Rortvedt, Dodgers Add Will Smith Dalton Rushing Alex Freeland and Justin Wrobleski, Welcome Back Smith, September Roster Expansion Begins, Dodgers Dalton Rushing Activated

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| True Blue LA | Dodgers activate Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, Justin Wrobleski, call up Alex Freeland | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxQOEpycWJReHQtdkVVSXhhVi1MSXNBS2FzWUZzdnUtN21iaXNDVFdCRUk2SzhpbmxLRXdKaGpUckFmWk0xcFY0TjFleWVKR3VCd0Z4T2FUOVJlTGMzOG1NbDhVaFhXYkNlU0N0QlNkQklDUUdOWXJmN1RXTUk2dk1UM2FlanFnc0VzcnBJNDZvaERBbXhDaG9RaUhYMmJzcjZFMVItSVJqZmc?oc=5) |
| Idaho State Journal | Dodgers activate Smith, Rushing and Wrobleski from injured list. Ohtani’s pitching outlook next | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingJBVV95cUxNS1dISzFCd3F2V3FCMlFNTVdMV0JvdDBPMXdaTXZCWTlEanlsN2huT1BQRmtzSmdYZ0YxRExFU1lEYVRIUGkxM243TFdSV09Gb0JKVnJnN1Y0Y2t6NHdhdkRQemlUal9OU2hyX2pWY1NMdy1fRnJtQUdrN1o1T0h3dll2dGxULTlBb3ZvNXFfNWFTbFhyZ0E3cXd6SDl2NTJ0b1hpYVlTanpLYUNGRWRVLVoxYXVSWGh2Sm4zdGw0cEY2T0tpQ2ZzUFdXVTRTME9nZ0dQSDVOdUtqa3VnUzRBU0pIdUdPbFNVMHItOXFmcWE5TFFiY2U3MXNtR3M3R0hfdUI3bEZIRXd1bU14aW56VTUxSVFrSVFqQTUwVDVB?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Dalton Rushing Shares Throwing Progression, Targets Return Behind the Plate for Dodgers | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQaTFDLTNQWkxNMlNtYUl4STZSbVRkUVo2YjVVWjVNSFZ5M1lXV2FwRmV4c3FkM3VieF8yZlR5aWN4akNjVS1mZFdwZml2M1VXTEJJOFhURk55SHNnZUVuVERoNGhTX0VGUHBpZU5OVnI4bDBxd3dsRXhFU3dxN09LTFhuYy1qbVNwV211UlRxQ3ZlTWpnMFE?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | Dodgers Cut Ties With Catcher, Activate Will Smith and Dalton Rushing in Massive 6-Player Roster Move | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxOSHFYSmM1elZFc3JkSEhvSWhCMXJQTkNJT0VUOU5NS2wyRDk1amZaSFgwcHlyb1h5SHF5cFFVVDN5SkJLRVRXczFfOHMyVG96cEkxUHd0WElvZUxXam94NVFiSnJmN2Ryc05ub3JGQnA3d28yWFlib1pNamM4YV9lN2UyQzFlQ2tqY0k2YTF1RXo2OUh2T2Jnb0RKMTY0aFRvSEloSERJdG5pRmVxeGRQNHppYlNQb2V1bFFkT1dmbThzaHU4bUR3VA?oc=5) |
| True Blue LA | Dodgers notes: Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani, Eric Lauer | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxPME5QY1diODRUeGRVNFBZNkZreHlqR2U0VHlJSF9GVEhVeU5sUVBjRHNZdzlVSURYa2RwYUpDTENSblhaeXRXYmgwM05PTGxnRW9DYllvQS1WVFpLWXozd1ZIT040c0M2eEZJN29ZcGI3ZFJMeTVFWnBRbWNwaHVOcExYWklwNDBFckc5YWhiR0hkcW1lMkZ3LUFKSVJHOU8xcWtOeDlvUGhVRzFO?oc=5) |
| KBAK | Dodgers’ roster shuffle brings back Will Smith. Shohei Ohtani’s pitching outlook next | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxPWTVZSjVtd1dNdUZwSU9CX00zWmRsdlVGYVlhQmJpTFRJd1Zmdk1NT2FzZDRxOFdPSGpYMFhXNDNnUHI5SHZ6X0hWSFU0bmY0VWl4QS16RjBwQS1BMlZ1ZXNGNzc2ZmNDaXpGZUhlQzBMQnFpcVhpcDNJTXZDWlJ5VnU1VEFIaWNuZkxrQVkyd0FwMVJsTEVtaVc2SHRCODNNTkJEWngwZUVzcEh0WGIxQTBiYUF4SWh6MUdVc3d4aGVIZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Dodgers notes: Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani, Eric Lauer | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxQWkNYdms4a2ltdFRmZHJTM01KLW8zTGJqbG1mTnV1a0o2TjNGR3VIbGZCWEozN0hqaFpmMXFqQU8wSGY4Slg1MDRlRGhUQU5uY21WUE5yTFEzUFJNUVNfTmVYQXdlTUlQZDZvN1g5WVVPc0hNZmpYbzNwNTZHSWNUNktXRE5VYkFRU3c?oc=5) |
| Dodgers Nation | Dodgers Activate Will Smith, Dalton Rushing as Flurry of Roster Moves Preps Team for Postseason | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxQUElWdC1LcFZBNlhGNE1IYUtRUWhJXzZSODdxeEViNk1oRFlQalZKVHhNbG5XX1hsMnRrTDBuQ3p3ZnpzUmRSRklDTENqOWs5THlqQVcyWFlBajBISnZFeHd1QkUydVZOYWNUZ0IwWDhJSE1tMXhMVV9FTEhNWGphMmZFdFNQM3BOOTE3RFJJSXNWeUJiVjVDTEZqbHVGZnZQOTdnaUxtZVVnbm9DelM4XzNSS1diaHh4TEdiWUpTWG5TSHZNU1RPSjFnS0M?oc=5) |
| The Sporting Tribune | Dodgers get reinforcements; Shohei Ohtani's status still uncertain | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxNbmIxMERsbDVQU1JlRHJsamNRUW1jamRXc3hvd1V2QXBQc2hGWGY1SXNqRDdwV3hjZFdGNDY2LWRaaXpCZ0FnVU9hX2ZoSkZDTVd6cG50Z2ZVX3pWWnkxSG1kN2F4SmdwVDJCOTluc1BwNnVOUlcyUEx5bURIUzBoYzVyWElOb3JYeHMxRTNLRzBxajR4SG8tVjFLWS1YbGxualYySGtUUDNpQllYQkFN?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Dodgers get Will Smith, Rushing, Wrobleski back from IL | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxOaHM1X0NISTVpUzdvT3RVV0I4LWtWWjNvSHVIWkRDbXBUX1ZnYTFpa1YwV3RJS1AwZmRPcHBERWhVZ01zaGJGNDhUNWs0N0ZNM09CSkpXZF94WFZjR0VPVWZlZWU4cmNXMHpVOVZTLTNNZUkwdkE0YXdDMV9OX3lNbkM2amhjTWNoX2oxQVdmYUJxUQ?oc=5) |
| Orange County Register | Dodgers activate Smith, Rushing, Freeland, Wrobleski as rosters expand | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxQa1NORThKdHJqcFRlZ2dxd2J3WGFOVnV5a0pFTENJM3hzQThQc05URFRfeUFBZnZBMnRaWTJabHM4M3ROR3ZoZHgtMGZsU19SRVVsUGZGQm9EVDE1LVp4d3RvcHRleTdwT1JUclBMdURPZW03VHF5anBobjhvVHp1LXFmdnk0eE5vMzdORk5ZVXVKUGpFSnZmcDRwbnB5WDhxQVlTQmFRVHZUQQ?oc=5) |
| DodgerBlue.com | Will Smith ‘Crucial’ To Dodgers’ Success | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxNWGVZQ1Q1S2V3WGoxS25leGlRNGhQenlpX1V2MTBjRnczU1Fwek82aWc1YkQ3SUltVHJBR0xkaFNQZEVNZUF1ZWNESmo3NWJtTk80TDVFLTMwa2pUOVVmVVdWUGVaVmFoOUdDZk1WZENLcHJpUzVadGM3RDMtMHI5QWp5LVR6d9IBiwFBVV95cUxNZ005MzdfdkFlUXpyYWptR3BKT0NnSGdJTnBwWkZ6NVVTZnNycjdaR3o5Nl9aSUdxbk1zcmpkcktsRzVULXVyajBqdU40RWxLakhRX3lPMlBXSDVUV2ItRmg4MDB5Y1B0NzJ1VkJiN2xlZERGVXhIREg0dXF2aG11RWNfa2xRN3cxTG5n?oc=5) |
| ABC7 Los Angeles | Dodgers get Will Smith, Rushing, Wrobleski back from IL | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNX210SGE0Znp6Z1lNRC1GQ3UxNmpibkRaSW4wc2RyVTNVb1lYMmRsejhHUUVLMEZ5Z3VBc1dtTDQtNnV3dEstTVJVcjVzQjZ6NFRSZ05HazgxZGZiVFRsUDY1TVBXMEkydTBpT3V0X003b1JuaFJ6N3BjNTU5TTRzYm9QUGR6b0U?oc=5) |
| Los Angeles Times | Will Smith and Dalton Rushing among Dodgers activated as rosters expand for September | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQU24yd3p5aU1TWjhrMmt5Tm83QlBYZUlIZXR5U2hiOG1aZXJRbEhxVktUMEVRV1ozdWE2a1hsZWdJckJOYjNzWDl2MVhvbUVCZkVuRy1wRDNXQnBzUmRmUlE1Snk5YmtsY1U1Qk9kaGRraFRScEdBV1U3NnBzMmFCb1lCUTEyYUhPYXBmelROdTZRM25rZEJnWGZxZU8yOUg0Vlo3ag?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Dodgers' Ben Rortvedt: Designated for assignment | 2026-09-01 19:09 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxNV3BndUlIX1F2bHVXTGRsRG55dzFVYTBOMi1LTU5pNVlsOTdMOHJPM0lJVHl1V0p1U3JiMEo2cVFZaUhGd3FyM3d2VnVQYWpvN05HUzJVb0JHUmRRSTlBWjV4MERCRkk4MzhNbEZNRWVyTjViWFBpaXZLb1FRdUJCMldOQ2U1TFRVZEpzaktfUW9WRTZnTlBnR21PSQ?oc=5) |

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