MILWAUKEE — It was a good thing for Ben Rortvedt to have a distraction, so at a Costco in the Tampa Bay area he became fixated on a 90-inch flat screen television.
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Former Verona star Ben Rortvedt was hitting .300 in his first 30 games as a catcer for the Tampa Bay Rays this season.
Ben Rortvedt swings a bat as a child outside the home of his father, Eric Rortvedt, and step-mother, Jean Rortvedt.
Ben Rortvedt, left, talks with pitcher Jeff Bishop as Verona hosted Sun Prairie on April 26, 2016 at Stampl Field. Rortvedt was the State Journal's Player of the Year in his senior season.
Ben Rortvedt swings his yellow wiffle ball bat outside of the home of his father, Eric Rortvedt, and step-mother, Jean Rortvedt.
Ben Rortvedt was a star at Verona but had to develop into a top defensive catcher. He is now a starter for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ben Rortvedt played for the Fort Myers Miracles in 2018 and 2019. The former Verona star had a relentless pursuit of becoming a starter in Major League Baseball, which he is for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ben Rortvedt made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2021. However, he only played 39 games for the team which drafted him 56th overall in 2016.
Former Verona star Ben Rortvedt found a consistent starting role after the Tampa Bay Rays acquired him in a trade prior to this season.
Former Verona star Ben Rortvedt is hitting .300 for the Tampa Bay Rays as a starting catcher.
Ben Rortvedt was a star pitcher for Verona Little League, which created a full-circle moment as the catcher pitched in a blowout for the Tampa Bay Rays in April.
Journey of Verona's Ben Rortvedt to starting MLB catcher in photos
Ben Rortvedt
Five Verona High School seniors signed National Letters of Intent with NCAA Division I colleges on Wednesday. From left are Grace Mueller, Wisconsin basketball; Victoria Brisack, Indiana volleyball; Beata Nelson, Wisconsin swimming; Ben Rortvedt, Arkansas baseball; and Keaton Knueppel, Gonzaga baseball.
Verona's Ben Rortvedt (14) is tagged out at second base by Sun Prairie's Walker Jenkins (10) in the first inning of a Big Eight Conference baseball game at Stampfl Field in Verona, Wis., Tuesday, April 26, 2016. AMBER ARNOLD -- State Journal
Verona catcher Ben Rortvedt, left, who has committed to play college baseball at Arkansas if he doesn't go pro, has called the game for Verona's pitchers for the past two seasons.
Verona's Ben Rortvedt earned the Big Eight Conference's baseball Player of the Year award and has signed to play with the Minnesota Twins.
Verona's Ben Rortvedt, right, tags out Sun Prairie's Ben Hauser at home plate in the fifth inning of a Big Eight Conference baseball game at Stampfl Field in Verona, Wis., Tuesday, April 26, 2016. AMBER ARNOLD -- State Journal
Ben Rortvedt played for the Fort Myers Miracles in 2018 and 2019. The former Verona star had a relentless pursuit of becoming a starter in Major League Baseball, which he is for the Tampa Bay Rays.
New York Yankees catcher Ben Rortvedt hits during a baseball spring training workout Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Ben Rortvedt made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2021. However, he only played 39 games for the team which drafted him 56th overall in 2016.
Ben Rortvedt swings a bat as a child outside the home of his father, Eric Rortvedt, and step-mother, Jean Rortvedt.
A young Ben Rortvedt readies to swing his yellow wiffle ball bat outside his father Eric Rortvedt and step-mother Jean Rortvedt's home.
Ben Rortvedt swings his yellow wiffle ball bat outside of the home of his father, Eric Rortvedt, and step-mother, Jean Rortvedt.
Former Verona star Ben Rortvedt was hitting .300 in his first 30 games as a catcer for the Tampa Bay Rays this season.
Tampa Bay Rays' Ben Rortvedt celebrates his home run during a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Ben Rortvedt was a star pitcher for Verona Little League, which created a full-circle moment as the catcher pitched in a blowout for the Tampa Bay Rays in April.
Former Verona star Ben Rortvedt found a consistent starting role after the Tampa Bay Rays acquired him in a trade prior to this season.
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt (30) and José Caballero (7) congratulate pitcher Tyler Alexander (14) as he leaves during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, April 19, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Former Verona star Ben Rortvedt is hitting .300 for the Tampa Bay Rays as a starting catcher.
