# Dodgers Activate Will Smith, Designate Ben Rortvedt

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-01 21:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reshaped their roster ahead of a series against the Cardinals, activating Will Smith and designating Ben Rortvedt.

## Intelligence Brief
According to reports from MLB.com and True Blue LA, the organization has activated several players, most notably catcher Will Smith. Alongside Smith, the team has activated Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski. Additionally, the Dodgers have called up Alex Freeland. To facilitate these additions to the active roster, MLB Trade Rumors reports that the team has designated Ben Rortvedt for assignment. Coverage of these moves is widespread across major sports outlets.


CBS Sports highlights the specific role of Dalton Rushing, noting that he has been activated to serve as a bench bat for the team. Yahoo Sports emphasizes the timing and scale of these transactions, describing them as major roster moves that were finalized immediately before the team begins a series against the Cardinals. The coordination of these updates across MLB.com and True Blue LA confirms a comprehensive shift in the team's available personnel. The context of these moves centers on the Dodgers' preparation for their upcoming series against the Cardinals. The activation of Will Smith, a key component of the lineup, suggests a strategic effort to solidify the roster during a critical period of the season.


The inclusion of prospect-level talent like Alex Freeland and the tactical deployment of Dalton Rushing as a bench option indicate a focus on depth and versatility as the team manages its active player list. Future developments will depend on the outcome of Ben Rortvedt's designation for assignment. While the active roster now includes Smith, Rushing, Wrobleski, and Freeland, coverage does not yet specify the long-term plans for Rortvedt. Observers will be watching to see how these newly activated players, particularly those filling bench and pitching roles, impact the Dodgers' performance as they enter the series against the Cardinals.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Substack | Dodgers Notes: Catching Reinforcements Arrive, Alex Freeland Gets Promoted, Edman’s Role Grows and Dodgers Make a Minor Trade | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifEFVX3lxTFBUUEozSHRNaWNlQjlDZFpESmJhUUFmQUFVVzJ1UEZpZjhKcWNHbml4WTItcHJOQ1dWTFZpRWppeGZNaWtrQ3hTOXFBVnQ1T0tRT3pBSFMya3BVZjF0QlJPR25qQ19LeEtZdlFGbkZxVXVMNW1FdWk0YlQxWFc?oc=5) |
| KBAK | Dodgers’ roster shuffle brings back Will Smith. Shohei Ohtani’s pitching outlook next | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxPWTVZSjVtd1dNdUZwSU9CX00zWmRsdlVGYVlhQmJpTFRJd1Zmdk1NT2FzZDRxOFdPSGpYMFhXNDNnUHI5SHZ6X0hWSFU0bmY0VWl4QS16RjBwQS1BMlZ1ZXNGNzc2ZmNDaXpGZUhlQzBMQnFpcVhpcDNJTXZDWlJ5VnU1VEFIaWNuZkxrQVkyd0FwMVJsTEVtaVc2SHRCODNNTkJEWngwZUVzcEh0WGIxQTBiYUF4SWh6MUdVc3d4aGVIZw?oc=5) |
| Dodgers Nation | Dalton Rushing Shares Throwing Progression, Targets Return Behind the Plate for Dodgers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxPR01CaXk1OGI3YVZIamZjc3RRcThudTl6UXM2TFlLTFdIaUVkOXpKd3JFSllheldEemtYVGdZVWdHMzRFaGxfUjBOTkxYdmFWTUFETExRR0Z5U3pNTTFhWFRQUk41aUFzbGdUbFlxVEYtS3QzYnF6SE5aVGU2SC0zeGgzSlgwenl6dW1teVlybjBxLWlJclVpZUY4T3ppRVhQbkFVT1BKalRpaWdfVEZOWUtIZGVISzh2RVYwZXJGUmRFQQ?oc=5) |
| Idaho State Journal | Dodgers activate Smith, Rushing and Wrobleski from injured list. Ohtani’s pitching outlook next | [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 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQaTFDLTNQWkxNMlNtYUl4STZSbVRkUVo2YjVVWjVNSFZ5M1lXV2FwRmV4c3FkM3VieF8yZlR5aWN4akNjVS1mZFdwZml2M1VXTEJJOFhURk55SHNnZUVuVERoNGhTX0VGUHBpZU5OVnI4bDBxd3dsRXhFU3dxN09LTFhuYy1qbVNwV211UlRxQ3ZlTWpnMFE?oc=5) |
| True Blue LA | Dodgers notes: Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani, Eric Lauer | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirAFBVV95cUxPME5QY1diODRUeGRVNFBZNkZreHlqR2U0VHlJSF9GVEhVeU5sUVBjRHNZdzlVSURYa2RwYUpDTENSblhaeXRXYmgwM05PTGxnRW9DYllvQS1WVFpLWXozd1ZIT040c0M2eEZJN29ZcGI3ZFJMeTVFWnBRbWNwaHVOcExYWklwNDBFckc5YWhiR0hkcW1lMkZ3LUFKSVJHOU8xcWtOeDlvUGhVRzFO?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Dodgers notes: Will Smith, Shohei Ohtani, Eric Lauer | [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 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxQUElWdC1LcFZBNlhGNE1IYUtRUWhJXzZSODdxeEViNk1oRFlQalZKVHhNbG5XX1hsMnRrTDBuQ3p3ZnpzUmRSRklDTENqOWs5THlqQVcyWFlBajBISnZFeHd1QkUydVZOYWNUZ0IwWDhJSE1tMXhMVV9FTEhNWGphMmZFdFNQM3BOOTE3RFJJSXNWeUJiVjVDTEZqbHVGZnZQOTdnaUxtZVVnbm9DelM4XzNSS1diaHh4TEdiWUpTWG5TSHZNU1RPSjFnS0M?oc=5) |
| The Sporting Tribune | Dodgers get reinforcements; Shohei Ohtani's status still uncertain | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxNbmIxMERsbDVQU1JlRHJsamNRUW1jamRXc3hvd1V2QXBQc2hGWGY1SXNqRDdwV3hjZFdGNDY2LWRaaXpCZ0FnVU9hX2ZoSkZDTVd6cG50Z2ZVX3pWWnkxSG1kN2F4SmdwVDJCOTluc1BwNnVOUlcyUEx5bURIUzBoYzVyWElOb3JYeHMxRTNLRzBxajR4SG8tVjFLWS1YbGxualYySGtUUDNpQllYQkFN?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Dodgers get Will Smith, Rushing, Wrobleski back from IL | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxOaHM1X0NISTVpUzdvT3RVV0I4LWtWWjNvSHVIWkRDbXBUX1ZnYTFpa1YwV3RJS1AwZmRPcHBERWhVZ01zaGJGNDhUNWs0N0ZNM09CSkpXZF94WFZjR0VPVWZlZWU4cmNXMHpVOVZTLTNNZUkwdkE0YXdDMV9OX3lNbkM2amhjTWNoX2oxQVdmYUJxUQ?oc=5) |
| AP News | Dodgers activate Smith, Rushing and Wrobleski from injured list. Ohtani’s pitching outlook next | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTFBQb2cwSkdyQmxtRmdGcnVYWUpudWpjYkphR2xCV0prYVNBZ3Q3N0lwRU8wUm5zRFJDU3BwVDJJTDJMdml3Z0tTb0ZNZGF6a2l1WDg0dU1UWXVxZHBKM2x1Vi1QT09sRHB2ck9iN2pwVUx0bFdzSU50Z2pqV3hPZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Dodgers notes: Will Smith, Dalton Rushing, Teoscar Hernández | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQTXNTV2x4c01Wc3YwTlVjYXZwVnR0WnJra0ZDQVljOWFjTndEdE9oTzAwT1dnbmhoMGhMZnJNQjZKbExoMmVSaHdyYzNtUkI0cXZ3SUg5bjUwelE1LVdnWC12Rmx0VFlKNVhmUjVTLXh5eTZFblFyS3VMM1lvRVpTRGZIaU45TU5RczNV?oc=5) |
| ABC7 Los Angeles | Dodgers get Will Smith, Rushing, Wrobleski back from IL | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihwFBVV95cUxNX210SGE0Znp6Z1lNRC1GQ3UxNmpibkRaSW4wc2RyVTNVb1lYMmRsejhHUUVLMEZ5Z3VBc1dtTDQtNnV3dEstTVJVcjVzQjZ6NFRSZ05HazgxZGZiVFRsUDY1TVBXMEkydTBpT3V0X003b1JuaFJ6N3BjNTU5TTRzYm9QUGR6b0U?oc=5) |
| Orange County Register | Dodgers activate Smith, Rushing, Freeland, Wrobleski as rosters expand | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxQa1NORThKdHJqcFRlZ2dxd2J3WGFOVnV5a0pFTENJM3hzQThQc05URFRfeUFBZnZBMnRaWTJabHM4M3ROR3ZoZHgtMGZsU19SRVVsUGZGQm9EVDE1LVp4d3RvcHRleTdwT1JUclBMdURPZW03VHF5anBobjhvVHp1LXFmdnk0eE5vMzdORk5ZVXVKUGpFSnZmcDRwbnB5WDhxQVlTQmFRVHZUQQ?oc=5) |
| True Blue LA | The start of the homestand is marked by Will Smith’s return | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxOTzZiY0c1Tk1GWDhyQVZZR0RQelQwLXd2aG1XT2FvZUJXb3ZqZHE2anBDQzlXcEhaRmh0blBEUEtYRXhNNmcxTVM2cnFxQWkzUWhLWVFwQW9FZllsTUZMMkUwRTluUXNlRWpweUl0NFMyMHRkSldKSWdXM2ZZelBJRWZxeW1RcHljbW01ZHZyREVSaEdyZjVJTDQxTGJORTJ4bkpjX2hnQ2VUcEhKbTgxLTBfX3FrTzFjX0FlTWt4NA?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-01/dodgers-activate-will-smith-designate-ben-rortvedt*