Ben Rortvedt cropped 3/15/22
Yankees catcher Ben Rortvedt has an oblique injury, creating “concern” around the 24-year-old’s status for Opening Day, as New York manager Aaron Boone said to reporters Saturday.
Rortvedt, according to Boone, has a mild oblique strain and is doing catching drills but will not swing a bat for five days.
The Yankees acquired Rortvedt this past Sunday in a trade that sent catcher Gary Sanchez and third baseman Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins for third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortshop Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
The left-handed-hitting Rortvedt figured to split time with catcher Kyle Higashioka, a righty.
Rob Brantly, a left-handed hitter, and the right-handed-hitting David Freitas are among New York’s non-roster catching candidates if Rortvedt remains sidelined.
Freitas, as a designated hitter during the Yankees’ 3-3 tie Saturday at the Baltimore Orioles’ Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., posted a 1-for-2 day with one two-run home run.
The Twins selected…